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Samsung Electronics today announced a new partnership with FlexIt, a health and wellness solution that makes exercise more convenient and accessible. Starting this month,1 FlexIt will bring personal trainer-based fitness content to Samsung Smart TV users through the new lifestyle hub Samsung Daily+2 on Samsung Tizen OS.
 

 
“Wellness should be central to our routines, so building healthy habits through Samsung Daily+ makes it convenient to incorporate health and wellness into all different aspects of daily life,” said Demian Hyun, Vice President and Head of the Experience Planning Group of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “This new partnership underscores Samsung’s commitment as the leader in the global display industry to promoting thoughtful, interconnected health experiences aimed at bettering the lives of consumers.”
 

 
On the FlexIt app’s online portal, users can find, book and pay for exclusive one-on-one virtual fitness sessions directly on their TVs. With a camera connected — whether it be via a supported webcam3 or a smartphone — virtual health professionals4 provide real-time feedback, adjust workouts and offer form modifications to foster a supportive, safe and effective workout environment.
 

 
The FlexIt app helps users approach their health in a more holistic way; in addition to workout content, FlexIt offers nutrition training, low-impact wellness activities like meditation and yoga, and physical and occupational therapy. By working virtually with a trainer who understands their personal fitness journey and wellness goals, users craft an attainable routine that suits their needs and lifestyle, all from the comfort of their home or any other location with a connected device.
 

 
By housing services such as FlexIt, Samsung Daily+ is paving the way for the future of virtual health and wellness experiences through its convenience and accessibility to build productive and convenient daily routines. Samsung Daily+ serves as a new lifestyle hub for Smart TV users, allowing them to conveniently enjoy a wide range of premium lifestyle services and features — such as home fitness, telehealth services, video calls and more — using one single interface.
 
“Through the innovative FlexIt app for Samsung, we’re furthering our commitment to making fitness more accessible than ever. By delivering personalized, one-on-one immersive training experiences directly to your living room, we’re extending our reach to a broader audience, empowering individuals to achieve their wellness goals with ease and convenience,” said Austin Cohen, FlexIt’s Founder and CEO.
 
During CES® 2024, Samsung gave consumers an early look at Samsung Daily+ and the FlexIt app on its 2024 Neo QLED 8K. Richard Friedman, FlexIt’s Senior Vice President of Technology, joined the Samsung team in Las Vegas to showcase how the FlexIt app integrates with Samsung TVs. Samsung Daily+ is also a 2024 CES Innovation Awards Honoree, having been recognized as a unique smart home service with an open ecosystem that integrates third-party services.
 
For more information on health offerings on Samsung’s TV lineup, visit Samsung.com.
 
 
About FlexIt
FlexIt has revolutionized the fitness and wellness industry through its innovative, cutting-edge technology, offering a comprehensive approach to holistic well-being for consumers and enterprises. Its core solution centers around live, one-on-one, two-way personal health and wellness sessions with fitness and wellness experts, accessible through both web and app platforms. FlexIt’s platform goes beyond just fitness training, embracing holistic well-being through nutrition coaching (led by registered nutritionists with a focus on weight loss), low-impact wellness activities (yoga, meditation, stretching and dance), health coaching, and physical and occupational therapy (covering preventive, pre/post-natal, senior and recovery), offering 28 health modalities on the platform.
 
Our comprehensive and innovative approach has earned us recognition within the industry. FlexIt has been selected for the Best Budget-Friendly Coaching App of 2023 by Women’s Health, the Best Personal Trainer Apps of 2023 by Forbes, and the Best Fitness Apps in 2023 by Oprah Daily and has been awarded by Men’s Health, Inc. 5000, US News & World Report, among many others.
 
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1 Availability varies by model and region. The FlexIt app will be available through Samsung Daily+ on all 2024 TV models: Neo QLED 8K, 4K, OLED, UHD (above DU7000) and The Frame. OS upgrade is scheduled to be provided for select 2023 TV models during the second half of 2024. 2022 and 2021 TV model users can download the FlexIt app through the app store.
2 Starting this year, Samsung Daily+, a hub for lifestyle experiences, provides a wide range of services and features — from personal training and telehealth to video calls and remote PC solutions — in one single interface. With Samsung TVs at the center of the home, users can enjoy the benefits of the latest innovations and seamless connectivity between devices in their day-to-day lives.
3 Logitech Webcam (C930e, C922 PRO STREAM WEBCAM, C925E, C920s Pro HD Webcam, HD Pro Webcam C920, C920-C, C930c, HD Pro Webcam C920, StreamCam), Samsung (SC-FD100B)
4 English- and Spanish-speaking FlexIt health professionals and trainers
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Since its introduction in 2017, Samsung Art Store has provided users with remarkable pieces of art in 4K resolution directly to their homes. Users can access these masterpieces via The Frame, Samsung’s lifestyle TV with an enhanced Matte Display that reduces light reflection. With this newest feature, The Frame allows users to view brilliant pieces of art from a catalogue of thousands right on their screen using Art Mode.
 
To further accessibility to and diversity within art, Samsung has been partnering with numerous museums, galleries and art collectives, with the latest Artlife Matters and Samsung Art Store partnership being one of them. Together, Artlife Matters and Samsung Art Store have been providing consumers with a unique and inspiring selection of artworks by Ghanaian and African artists, giving viewers who may not have been able to view the works in person a chance to experience the art in the comfort of their homes.
 
Samsung Newsroom sat down with Eric Agyare, the Founder and Project Director at Artlife Matters, to discuss how the organization and its partnership with Samsung Art Store has transformed the perception of art and its role in enhancing diversity and accessibility for artists in Ghana and Africa.
 
▲ Artists at the Artist Seminar held by Artlife Matters in 2022
 
 
Expanding Opportunities for Art
Q: Can you tell us a bit about Artlife Matters and what inspired you to pursue a partnership with Samsung Art Store?
 
Artlife Matters is an art-influential organization that looks to foster collaboration and partnership opportunities that showcase practicing and upcoming artists within the creative arts space. Due to limited opportunities and resources, at times it can be difficult for artists to reach their full potential. In partnering with the Samsung Art Store, we are able to provide a platform that allows artists the opportunity to experience art from a worldwide lens.
 
 
Q: How has the reception of your partnership with Samsung been from members of Artlife Matters and its artists?
 
The reception from artists has been positive. The exposure and revenue model of the Art Store platform has solved significant career challenges, and our artists now have the peace of mind to keep doing what they love without concerns for livelihood. To date, we currently have artwork submissions from six African countries, allowing consumers to truly enjoy the diverse artwork Artlife Matters provide.
 
 
Q: How has your experience working with Samsung affected consumers’ perception of African art?
 
The partnership has also positively affected consumers’ preferences, exposing them to the unknown aesthetics of our continent. As a result, I believe users of The Frame are more enlightened on the new African narrative than ever before. During our Artist Seminar held in December 2022, Artlife Matters recorded that most of our listed artists on that platform had been contacted by users of The Frame. Some conversations are leading to new projects as well.
 
 
Creating Diverse and Accessible Environments in Art
Q: As an art-influential organization that celebrates and promotes art as a form of expression, what are some of the ways the organization helps to address societal issues and inspire a creative and inclusive society?
 
Artlife Matters has been implementing an art-based capacity building project called “Artitude”, which aims to expand the possibilities of the creative art space. Through workshops, internships and mentorships, we have engaged over 4,395 young creatives in senior high schools across Ghana, showing them the social, cultural and economic possibilities in the creative art space while also promoting the importance of art.
 
Our goal is to celebrate and highlight art as a social, cultural and economic development tool. The school and community projects we run are created to inspire and shape creatives to reach their vast potential within the art industry. Our goal is to become a pan-African organization with an art ecosystem that allows new and existing creatives to exchange and implement ideas that shape society.
 
 
Q: What role do you see technology playing in bridging the accessibility gap for consumers and artists in the coming years?
 
We believe the effort in democratizing the art industry through technology is increasing the demand for creative goods. Through technology, art can become accessible to the right consumers and offer more exposure to artists’ work. The dream of having a viable career in art can easily be made possible for young adults living in remote areas in Ghana.
 
 
Illustrating the Vibrancy and Richness Art
Q: What are some of the unique artistic elements that define Ghanaian art and the newest works in the Art Store?
 
Ghana is increasingly becoming the hub for contemporary African art. Our vibrant colors, unique way of representing blackness and the authenticity of the Ghanaian narrate now have the world’s attention. We use every opportunity to advocate and demonstrate art’s social, cultural and economic value in Ghana and beyond. Artlife Matters is focused on creating and managing a vibrant art space that influences positive community behaviors, as depicted in the Kolorscape art piece.
 
 
Q: Of the newest works in the Art Store, which piece would you recommend for users to display on The Frame?
 
To showcase the amazing and vibrant works from Artlife Matters and its artists, I’d recommend that consumers display the works of art outlined below on The Frame.
 
▲ Kolorscapes (2021) by Dela Aemaga(Becké)
 
Dela Aemaga is a contemporary artist. His works spur dialogue on race, society, culture, religion and politics. Dela firmly believes art validates perception, and this is how he perceives the future of the Accra creative community in this masterpiece.
 
▲ Melanin Lisa by Elkanah Kwadwo Mpesum (el Carna)
 
Elkanah Kwadwo Mpesum is a professional illustrator with an edge to narrate authentic African stories. His version of the “Mona Lisa” is a tribute to the beauty and majesty of black womanhood.
 
▲ She Snap by Manzi Leon
 
Manzi Leon is a self-taught surreal visual and digital artist who loves the impasto painting style because it gives him exciting energy to see visible brush strokes converging on a canvas to form a masterpiece that expresses the thoughts and feelings of women in his community. This painting depicts how we get happiness and the power to stick to what motivates us.
 
To see more of Artlife Matters’ artwork, head to the Samsung Art Store in The Frame.
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Art is a reflection of a region’s history, providing valuable insights into the direction society is headed. This is especially true for National Gallery Singapore, which oversees the world’s largest public collection of modern Singapore and Southeast Asian art — acting as a “melting pot” of art from the region.
 
Samsung Art Store is an art subscription service that began in 2017 for The Frame, the company’s lifestyle TV. In partnership with more than 50 museums and galleries worldwide, the service provides more than 2,000 pieces of artwork, ranging from famous paintings to unique pieces from emerging artists. Through this service, users can access various works of art in 4K resolution from the comfort of their own homes.
 
Since April 2022, Samsung Art Store has been partnering with National Gallery Singapore to bring consumers a curated selection of prominent artworks by Singaporean and Southeast Asian artists. A leading visual arts institution, the Gallery is a custodian of over 8,000 works that form Singapore’s National Collection, which capture the changing landscape of this dynamic region.
 
Samsung Newsroom sat down with Jason Ong, Director, Partnership Development at National Gallery Singapore to discuss how the Gallery and its partnership with Samsung Art Store are redefining the role of art galleries and its role in fostering diversity and accessibility.
 
▲ National Gallery Singapore
 
 
Q: National Gallery Singapore’s partnership with Samsung Art Store is fairly recent, having been announced in April 2022. Can you tell us a bit about the inspiration behind this partnership?
 
National Gallery Singapore is committed to making our collection more accessible as well as to deepen the public’s engagement with our artworks. Collaboration with like-minded partners, such as Samsung, help us to achieve this goal. We are especially heartened to know that though this partnership, artworks from our collection can reach an international audience in the comforts of their home.
 
As the first Southeast Asian museum represented in the Art Store, our presence on the Art Store allows us to showcase some of our key artworks to a global audience; we hope that this will enhance awareness and appreciation of our region’s rich art history.
 
Through technology, visitors are able to have a glimpse of the diversity of art and narratives showcased through the selected artworks. We hope this partnership will ignite more interest not only for works from our collection but also for Singapore and Southeast Asian art in general.
 
 
Q: Can you tell us more about the Gallery’s goal to foster and inspire a creative and inclusive society? What does this look like?
 
The Gallery is working towards expanding the hearts, perspectives and horizons of the public through art. We have been steadfast in our ambition to deepen art appreciation in our audiences. Our desire to develop the Gallery as a space for dialogue and discovery also extends to the exhibitions we present. By sharing the magic of storytelling with all, our exhibitions and programs can add to, adapt or remake age-old tales. Our critically acclaimed exhibitions are curated to promote conversations and encourage fresh perspectives on the art of Singapore, Southeast Asia and the world.
 
 
Q: Samsung Art Store recently updated its selection from the Gallery’s diverse collections to include pieces from renowned artists such as You Khin, John Turnbull Thomson and Raden Saleh. How were these works chosen?
 
We display a unique transnational approach towards our collection as we aim to rewrite the art histories of this region. The works selected for Samsung — varying in medium, subject matter and social concerns — demonstrate the diversity of art from the region. You will find a wide range of works drawn from various countries in the region from the 19th to 20th century, varying in medium and artistic style.
 
 
Q: Which three would you recommend for users to display on The Frame?
 
Kampong Pasir Panjang was painted by Singaporean artist, Idris Ali, in 1965. Idris Ali’s paintings of Singapore are important as they serve as visual documentation of our national heritage. We hope that this painting provides an insight into the local landscape of early post-independence Singapore.
 
 
▲ Kampong Pasir Panjang (1965) by Idris Mohd Ali
 
You Khin’s Untitled (Doha Scene: Pakistani Bakers) records the local Pakistani bakery that Cambodian artist, You Khin often visited with his children during his years in Doha and offers insights into how he passed the time in his adopted home. This painting also demonstrates how other regions of the world are interpreted in Southeast Asia’s modern art through artists who travelled widely like You Khin.
 
▲ Untitled (Doha Scene: Pakistani Bakers) (1990) by You Khin
 
Boschbrand (Forest Fire) is one of the most iconic artworks of the Gallery represented in the Art Store since the inception of the partnership in April. While this piece isn’t one of the latest additions to the Art Store, it is a remarkable artwork with a dramatic representation of wild animals chased by flames to the edge of the precipice. The work was presented as a gift by Indonesian artist Raden Saleh to his patron King Willem III of the Netherlands in 1850. It is monumental in scale; we are glad that this masterpiece can be displayed and appreciated by The Frame owners from the comforts of their homes.
 
▲ Boschbrand (Forest Fire) (1849) by Raden Saleh
 
 
Q: You’ve worked on digital projects ranging from NFTs to the Web3 universe to make art more interactive and accessible. How do you foresee technology bridging the accessibility gap for consumers and artists in the coming years?
 
We must continue to harness this ability as we press towards the digital realm alongside everyone else. It is not enough to replicate the experience of visiting our galleries. Instead, visitors will have the opportunity to craft their own unique museum experience through modes of online engagement centered on interaction. Through video tutorials, games and livestreams, individuals can query artists; children can make art with their parents; and students can tour our exhibitions with their teachers.
 
As part of this initiative, the Gallery has recently created a private blockchain for “Adopt Now,” a public crowdfunding initiative that allows anyone to adopt part of an artwork from its art collection for as little as 50 Singapore Dollars. We are thrilled to report that this micro-giving initiative has received an encouraging response.
 
 
Q: Do you have any other upcoming exhibitions or projects you can tell us about? Do you have plans for any more digital art projects in the future?
 
As an innovative museum, National Gallery Singapore continues to innovate and explore emerging technologies to see what is possible in creating more opportunities for art appreciation among our visitors. To make art even more accessible, the Gallery launched ARText in September, an interactive platform that lets users learn about Southeast Asian art through daily conversations on common messaging apps.
 
ARText is built on the concept of micro-learning and delivers bite-size and interactive art learning experiences to mobile devices. The Gallery is also looking at personalizing the experience by integrating artificial intelligence text recognition software.
 
To see more artwork from National Gallery Singapore, head to Samsung Art Store in The Frame.
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Samsung Art Store is the epitome of the digital-physical blend, taking over today’s art experiences. It allows widely acclaimed galleries, museums and artists to showcase their masterpieces to users around the world through The Frame’s immaculate digital display. Since its launch in 2017, Samsung Art Store allows extraordinary, one-of-a-kind art selections to be accessible to consumers from the comfort of their own homes.
 
Mulga is the embodiment of the cool “art dude” persona. The Sydney-based Australian artist is a freelance illustrator, published author and muralist, whose style is vibrant, intricate and just fun. With a career beginning in finance, he transitioned to making a living through art when he decided he wanted to do something he was truly passionate about.
 
Now, Mulga makes a living doing what he loves. His art is inspired by animals, summer and the ocean, which is brought to life through Samsung’s Art Store. Samsung Newsroom sat down with Mulga to hear more about his artistic process and how he sees digital transformation affecting the art world.
 
▲ Mulga
 
 
Q: Your work is described by others as intricate, vibrant and unique. In your own words, how would you describe your art style?
 
I’d say it has a lot of summer vibes and humor to it. It also has real Australian vibes. There are always the black lines and details with an element of fun that tie it all together. You could say that it is art that brings a smile to your face and makes you feel good.
 
 
Q: You’ve worked on a variety of projects — collaborations with big brands, murals, smaller original paintings and snowboards. What has been one of your recent favorites?
 
Last month, I painted a 100-meter-long mural on the beach at Port Macquarie, and that was an awesome one to do. I love the beach, summer and surfing; so, it was the perfect location. At one stage, the waves were washing up against the wall while I was painting, and I had to time it with the tides. This made it a bit more exciting.
 
 
Q: How did you start working with Samsung and the Art Store? What excites you the most about this partnership?
 
I’ve worked with Samsung on a bunch of different campaigns over the years, usually creating art using Samsung products. One time, I even created over 19 mobile phone wallpapers. Samsung is a great partner to work with because they have cool products and do a lot of collaborations with creatives.
 
I got involved with the Art Store when The Frame was first launched. Samsung licensed one of my gorilla artworks to display on the TVs and to use for printed ads. I painted live at the launch in Sydney and worked a big mural in Melbourne promoting The Frame.
 
Having my work in the Art Store means that people all around the world are discovering my art. Once someone has seen my piece in the Art Store, they are more likely to find my website, in search for the original painting that they have displayed on their TV. Also, there are royalties based on how long my art is on display on all the TVs around the world.
 
 
Q: Much of your work is done in a real, physical way — painting. How do you find your paintings translate to digital display on The Frame? Do you have plans to work with other mediums in the future?
 
It works great. I scan all my artworks into a high-resolution digital format for The Frame, and it looks close to a real-life painting. While I have no plans to change the way I paint, I would love to turn my paintings into 3D works of art — really big public ones — in the future.
 
 
Q: How has your own artwork evolved as technology advanced? Are there any notable changes to your work that were deeply impacted by innovations in technology?
 
With the rise in blockchain technology and the new thing of being able to ‘own’ digital art now via NFTs, digital art is really having its heyday. As an artist, it is a great thing. I’ve been creating digital art a lot more and particularly when working on my own NFT collection “MulgaKongz.” By creating art on a tablet, I can work anywhere — at the beach, on a boat or in a motor vehicle. It’s very convenient.
 
In terms of displaying the artwork, digital displays like The Frame provide colors that are super vibrant with all the details on full display. The colors can sometimes even be more vibrant than the real-life paintings so that they appear supercharged. A lot of the times when the artworks are displayed on The Frame, they are larger than the real-life version, and a lot of the details are more noticeable too, which can be more impactful than the real-life smaller versions.
 
 
Q: What three pieces of yours would you recommend for users to display on The Frame?
 
It really comes down to personal preference, but I can tell you that last month, my most popular artwork in the Art Store was the Clifford King of the Point. It’s a painting of a big, bearded dude, standing with his surfboard on my local beach, and he is surrounded by goofy looking seagulls. It’s summery, fun and colorful.
 
▲ Clifford King of the Point (2020)
 
The second most viewed artwork of mine last month was a colorful collage style artwork titled Under the Sea. It features coral, fish with moustaches, bearded pineapples and octopus tentacles. I originally drew this artwork for a chain of Poke Bowl restaurants in my hometown of Sydney.
 
▲ Under the Sea (2018)
 
Another one of my favorite artworks in the Art Store is titled Cactus Brothers. It’s a painting of two cactus characters wearing sombreros under a starry night sky. They are in the desert surrounded by cacti and palm trees, and an oasis style lake is in the background. It was an artwork, which I was commissioned to paint for a cactus-loving collector of my art.
 
▲ Cactus Brothers (2021)
 
To see more of Mulga’s artwork, head to the Samsung Art Store in The Frame.
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Samsung Electronics today celebrates the grand opening of a virtual production stage in collaboration with leading entertainment company in Korea, CJ ENM. The studio’s real-time virtual experience is powered by connected cameras and Samsung’s cutting-edge Micro LED technology, The Wall (Model Name: IWA).
 
The partnership, first announced in July 2021, leverages the customizable, modular technology of The Wall and CJ ENM’s globally renowned television and film content production. The opening of this studio in Paju, Korea demonstrates momentum from both companies toward the next generation of video production technology, aimed at satisfying a range of customers in the increasingly fast-paced world of entertainment.
 

 
“We are delighted to announce the opening of this virtual production stage in partnership with CJ ENM, a company at the forefront of media and entertainment,” said Hyesung Ha, Executive Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “We are excited to see the innovation that this new space will produce, bringing the latest content to life like never seen before on our incredible display, The Wall.”
 
The CJ ENM virtual production stage will present Samsung’s innovative Micro LED technology with The Wall’s impressive screen measuring over 1,000 inches in a custom oval display of 20 meters in diameter and 7 meters in height. The IWA model display supports a resolution of 30,720 (32K) x 4,320 (4K). This real-time, virtual set powered by Samsung’s Micro LED displays and connected cameras will reduce the image compositing needs and save time and production costs. In addition, an IFR2.5 ceiling display has been installed, with the IFR 2.5 Plug Wall displayed on the other side of the IWA. 360-degree video shooting is also possible thanks to the main screen, ceiling and Plug Wall.
 

 

 
The Wall’s specifications are customizable to fit the unique requirements of the content creators and space, including ceiling installation in convex or concave design. The screen enhances visual expression with vivid colors, HDR10, HDR10+ and cinema LED picture quality and details. The features enabling reimagined content production include dedicated studio frame rates, including 23.976, 29.97 and 59.94Hz, for seamless video sync.
 
The Wall is designed for easy management and peace of mind in any environment due to the ability to manage and make color adjustments remotely as well as the dust and contamination-resistant LED protective films. In partnership with CJ ENM, Samsung is delivering on its commitment to offer innovative solutions ready for the next generation of content production.
 
  

 
 
About CJ ENM
CJ ENM is a leading entertainment company originated from Korea. Since 1995, the company has engaged in a wide array of businesses across the industry spectrum including media content, music, film, performing arts, and animation, providing its top-notch original content to various media platforms. CJ ENM has created, produced and distributed globally acclaimed contents including Oscar-winning film Parasite, Tony Award-winning musical Kinky Boots, record-breaking Korean box office hits Roaring Currents, Extreme Job, Ode to My Father, along with sought-after television series such as Mr. Sunshine, Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, Grandpas over Flowers, I Can See Your Voice and more. To offer the best K-Culture experiences worldwide, CJ ENM presents KCON, the world’s largest K-culture convention & festival celebrating Hallyu and Mnet ASIAN MUSIC AWARDS (MAMA), the world’s No.1 K-pop music awards. With regional offices in Asia, Europe and the U.S., CJ ENM currently employs over 3,600 people. For more information, please visit: http://www.cjenm.com.
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