« Ito Meikyū » is a reference to a Japanese composition technique called Fukinuki Yatai.
Crédits photos : Boris Labbé
In a tribute to Japanese art, Boris Labbé has created “Ito Meikyū”, a virtual fresco that blends traditional drawing and 3D animation. After making many films and video installations, “Ito Meikyū” is his first virtual reality project. His artwork is part of the official selection of the 2025 edition of Recto VRso, immersive art festival. The French artist shared with us his inspirations, which he draws mainly from Japanese society and culture.
Influence from Traditional Japanese Culture
Boris Labbé was trained at Tarbes School of Art and Angoulême Animation Film School. He is a French artist whose work is marked by hybridation. In his projects, he combines moving images and animation film techniques. He creates mainly projections, installations, but also video installations and films. His videos often breaks the spatial and time boundaries imposed by traditional cinema. « Ito Meikyū » is his first virtual reality project.
« Ito Meikyū » invites a user to enter a virtual universe inspired by Japanese literature and art. Two books in particular, The Pillow Book and The Tale of Genji, inspired the artist. Boris Labbé choosed to highlight the composition technique called Fukinuki Yatai, which literally means “roof removed”. These scenes, which include landscapes, architectural elements and figures, are viewed from above, without regard to walls and ceilings. These compositions generally portray interior scenes, sometimes intimate.
To create this virtual reality installation, Boris Labbé collaborated with Japanese animation filmmaker Ryo Orikasa. The result is a large-scale animated fresco filled with drawn scenes, in a virtual universe ideal for wandering. Drawing has always been at the heart of Boris Labbé’s artistic approach, whether traditional drawing or 3D animation. “Ito Meikyū” is yet another demonstration of his art, which has already won dozens of awards at the world’s leading film festivals.
Metaphor of a Labyrinth of Thread
In “Ito Meikyū”, the user is immersed in a universe where different drawn, animated and sound scenes mingle. Boris Labbé has recreated a subjective world in the form of a labyrinth, populated by plants, objects, animals, people, motifs and calligraphy. “The spectator is invited to wander through this virtual space in a free way, letting himself be guided by the chance of his discoveries.”
“Ito Meikyū” literally means ‘labyrinth of thread’. With this immersive project, Boris Labbé makes a reference to the concept of weaving and the loom, a machine that intrigues the artist. He creates a metaphor between weaving and life: “This metaphor connects life and love, representing relationships as threads linking individuals”, as he explained.
To discover Boris Labbé’s poetic, Japanese-style universe, visit the Recto VRso immersive art festival on April 10-13, 2025.
