In Japan, the humble blackboard has become an unexpected canvas for young artists participating in the "Kokuban Art Koshien," a national chalk art championship for high school students. The competition, which combines the Japanese word for blackboard ("kokuban") with the famous stadium for high school baseball, draws artworks from approximately 300 high schools and junior high schools each year, typically created over summer break.
These collaborative endeavors involve anywhere from two to dozens of students, showcasing a range of artistic styles and themes. The creations span depictions of dinosaurs, dogs, and whales, as well as manga scenes, classic artworks like Hokusai's Mount Fuji or the Mona Lisa, and imaginative interpretations of everyday life, such as an underwater classroom. Some pieces even feature a person writing on a blackboard.
Kazunari Minamishima, an art teacher at Saitama Prefectural High School of the Arts, suggests that the medium appeals to students because it allows for greater experimentation compared to traditional art forms like oil painting and sculpture. The contest, initiated in 2015 by Nichigaku Co., a Tokyo-based blackboard manufacturer, evaluates works by examining photographs, as blackboards are difficult to transport. Winners are slated to be announced in November.
The use of blackboards for artistic expression existed in Japan prior to the contest. Nichigaku President Tomohiro Yoshida noted that a striking replica of Da Vinci's "Last Supper" on a school blackboard caught the company's attention, signaling a nascent form of blackboard art beyond mere graffiti.
While the contest does not serve as a direct marketing tool for Nichigaku, as schools already possess blackboards, Yoshida proudly mentioned that some participants have gone on to become professional artists. The artistic process involves scattering chalk powder for a textured effect and smudging with fingers or tissue paper to create shading. Skilled artists can render fine details, such as the sheen in a dragon's eye, and some have even experimented with mixing chalk powder with water for a technique reminiscent of Jackson Pollock.
All schools in Japan, including international ones, are eligible to enter the Kokuban Art Koshien. Nichigaku expressed a desire for the contest to eventually expand internationally. Unlike graffiti on walls, blackboards offer the unique advantage of being erasable. Students obtain school permission before drawing, a practice reflecting Japan's orderly cultural norms.
Kento Misumi, a former participant who now works at Nichigaku, highlighted the collaborative aspect as a significant learning experience, describing the challenge of reconciling differing opinions among collaborators. He recalled devoting several days with friends to a single drawing and emphasized the value of the experience for young people.
Students at Kumagaya Girls' High School, participating for the first time, discussed ideas for their entry, including parodies of famous artworks juxtaposed with images of students in uniform. Chiho Ninomiya, one of the students, views the contest as an opportunity to strengthen relationships with her schoolmates, stating that even without winning, the shared experience would be valuable.
Drawing with chalk on a blackboard presents different challenges than using paints or pencils, requiring students to continuously learn through drawing, rubbing, and wiping. The ephemeral nature of the artwork, which is eventually erased, is seen by proponents as a valuable lesson in the impermanence of life and the courage to persevere. The completion of the art is considered to occur precisely at the moment it is erased.