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- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Interactive exhibition uses digital tools to show traditional Chinese patterns
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Waves, blossoms and clouds are just a few of the patterns in traditional Chinese design. The Hong Kong Palace Museum is using technology to teach people about the meaning behind these patterns.
The show is called 'The Ways in Patterns: An Immersive Digital Exhibition from the Palace Museum'.
'We hope to offer audiences a fresh lens for engaging with our heritage,' Louis Ng said. He is the Hong Kong Palace Museum's director.
Museums usually show physical artefacts. But this one presents visitors with digital versions of traditional designs. It uses modern tools to show the patterns of the old architecture, ceramics and textiles in Beijing's Palace Museum. This museum is in the Forbidden City.
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Mixing modern and old
This exhibition will run until October 13. It is the first time the Hong Kong Palace Museum and Beijing's Palace Museum have worked together on a multimedia gallery.
Three-dimensional projections of the designs come alive as they move around each display. Artificial intelligence also helped find hidden links between the patterns in different artefacts.
'Many [artefacts] have already been digitised in high resolution, a process that took three years,' Ng said.
'Combining technology with our cultural and artistic heritage has become a key goal.'
Ng hopes that technology can make learning about traditional culture more interesting for young people. This is especially important because 78 per cent of the museum's visitors are under the age of 45.
'We hope this exhibition will help the younger generation better understand China's outstanding traditional culture and encourage them to participate more actively in its preservation and innovation,' he said.
In the Patterns and Fashion section, flowers are projected onto hanging curtains. Photo: Eugene Lee
What you should see
Dragons, peaches and bats are elements you can see throughout the exhibition. These motifs have long been part of traditional Chinese art. They represent long life, wealth and good luck.
The exhibition also dives into the wonders of nature in Chinese art. It shows the beauty of the stars, flowers, birds and even mythical creatures like the phoenix and dragon. These patterns express a focus on beauty, harmony and joy.
Ng said these designs could also be found across other parts of the museum. They can be seen in ceramics, calligraphy and paintings. He hopes that the digital exhibition allows audiences to engage with Chinese culture in a different way.
'Visitors won't just find it immersive, interactive and fun,' he said.
'They'll also walk away with a deeper appreciation of the artistic excellence found in the decorative motifs of the Palace Museum's collections.'
In the fourth unit of the exhibition, visitors can look up at virtual versions of some caisson ceilings in Beijing's Palace Museum. These include the ceilings in the Hall of Supreme Harmony and the Pavilion of One Thousand Autumns.
Another section of the show recreates the window grilles of the Forbidden City. The display projects shapes and shadows that change with the seasons.
Near the end of the exhibition, visitors can create their own digital swimming fish. Their drawings can be instantly projected onto the wall.
Ng had one final point of advice: don't just look at the exhibition. Use all of your senses to explore the digital art. Use your whole body to learn about these cultural treasures.
Experience the changing seasons in the Forbidden City. Photo: Eugene Lee
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