Ancient art doesn't have to be boring. Technology in the 21st century can help to bring it to life by combining(融合) the best of the old and the new.
Along the River During the Qingming Festival
Walking into the China Pavilion at Expo 2010 in Shanghai, people were amazed by seeing a huge digital(数码的) painting. Scientists digitized(数码化) the famous painting Along the River During the Qingming Festisal by Chinese artist Zhang Zeduan.
The original(原先的) painting shows life during the Northern Song period and it includes many details of ancient Chinese customs, lifestyles and technology.
Farmers work in the fields, sailors move around their boats and people eat and do business in restaurants. Parts of the background are also animated(做成动画). You can see the wind blowing through the trees and across the water. These animations perfectly combine modern technology and ancient art.
Digital technology allows today's artists to express their ideas in ways that ancient artists would not believe possible. Techniques such as animation and 3D digital projection(投影) make art come alive.
Dunhuang Cave Paintings
Dunhuang Caves, which are protected ancient treasures in the Gobi desert in Northwest China, are filled with paintings and sculptures with lasting value. This artwork was created over a period of around 1,000 years.
The good news is for art lovers who cannot travel and for the caves. Scientists have created a 360-degree, 3D digital projection of the caves, which makes the artwork come alive. There is also a function(功能) that lets viewerszoom inand enjoy the paintings and sculptures in greater detail.
Digitising ancient art allows us to explore the ancient practices. It also makes the whole world understand the art while protecting the original artworks for the future.
