The exhibition Splendor in Diversity: Immersive Experience of GrottoArtis now open to the public at the National Museum of China, showcasing panoramic views of five major grottos .
Spanning approximately 1,500 square meters, this immersive exhibition combines digital drawing, imaging, and AI technology to present, explore, and interpret the artistic styles and profound connotations of the Kizil Grottos, Mogao Grottoes, Maijishan Grottoes, Yungang Grottoes, and Longmen Grottoesfrom a contemporary perspective.
The exhibition space covers around 1,500 square meters. The main hall features a grand digital installation shaped like a blooming lotus. Artists utilize digital drawing, imaging, and AI algorithms to offer a modern and unique interpretation of the art styles and profound connotations found within the Kizil Grottos, Mogao Grottoes, Maijishan Grottoes, Yungang Grottoes, and Longmen Grottoes
The exhibition provides a Artistic Time-Space Experience Zone, composed of five sections: \Diamond World, Eternal Treasures, Oriental Smile, Unity of Ten Directions, and Mysterious Wonderland. There are also Educational Interactive Experience Zone and Derivatives Zone, together creating a panoramic immersive experience environment, offering a new interpretation of grotto art.
The five sections, arranged according to the realistic geographical location from west to east, respectively represent the distinct characteristics of the Grottos. Diamond World showcases representative murals from its development phase to the peak phase of the Kizil Grottos, creating a tunnel that extends through space and time, illustrating how grotto art developed as it was gradually spread to China from the West and integrated with the Chinese culture.
Echoes of Antiquity renders the motifs of plants, cloud, flame, animals, geometric figures, and Flying Apsaras (a spiritual being in Buddist culture), from the Mogao Grottoesmurals through algorithmic imagery, presenting its brilliant artistic style
Eastern Serenity, through the interplay of light and shadow,utilizes the unique landscapes of the Maijishan Grottoes such as the misty rain and golden light of the Silk Road.to configure the image of a smiling Buddha, exuding the essence of Eastern spirituality.
Unity in Diversity draws inspiration from the Yungang Grottoes, embedding cave chambers into weathered cliff faces, showcasing the beauty of lines, patterns, and colors weathered by time from the same perspective.
Marvels and Wonders is the recreation based onthe Twemtu Inscriptions ofthe Longmen Grottoes.The calligraphic works, presented in an embodiment shaped like the Wei-style stone statues, are hang in the air and reorgarnized to form a matrix.
Additionally, the Educational Interactive Experience Zoneallows visitors to not only collect stamps but also create their tailor-made murals, which can be projected onto screens using interactive devices. In the DerivativesZone, visitors can buy cultural and creative derivatives.
The largest highlights of the immersive exhibition lie in the giant digital installations and interactive multi-sensory experience., The imaginary digitalrecreationoffers a refreshing perspective on grotto art. Come to the National Museum of China. Here you will be invited to transcend time and space and perceive the splendor of ancient Chinese civilization.
The Giant Digital Installations and Interactive Multi-Sensory Exhibits are the highlights of this immersive experience. The various grotto scenes, refined by contemporary aesthetic concepts, come across the time and space to be here together, presentingeither a sense of solemnness and sacredness or magnificence and exquisiteness.These imaginative digital art recreations convey the values, aesthetic pursuits, and cultural spirits embodied in ancient Chinese grotto art, allowing cultural heritage to align with new artistic expressions based on their original forms.
Location: North side of the third-floor platform and circular gallery of the National Museum
Duration: December 9, 2023 - December 9, 2024 (tentative)
