What is it about?
We investigate the application of Virtual Reality (VR) in reinterpreting a classical depiction of Suzhou, China, as depicted in an 18th-century handscroll painting titled "Prosperous Suzhou". By creating a three-dimensional immersive virtual environment, we enhance the understanding and experience of heritage landscapes that now only exist in ancient idealized paintings. Through VR technology, we aid in interpreting ancient principles related to the harmony of human inhabitation, the built forms, and their surrounding landscape. The VR environment aims to embed intangible cultural aspects into the recreated landscapes by integrating other historical information, such as poems and travel notes. The immersive and interactive virtual reality environment enhances the user experience by providing a firsthand journey through the designed space, thus allowing users to gain a greater understanding of the tangible and intangible heritage associated with the scholar garden as a landscape design form and of the specific Suichu Garden, an important example of lost heritage for Suzhou.
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Photo by Art Institute of Chicago on Unsplash
Why is it important?
We offer a novel approach to unlocking and experiencing the lost heritage of Suzhou through immersive virtual reality environments. By reinterpreting an ancient handscroll painting into a three-dimensional virtual space, we enhance understanding and appreciation of Suzhou's historical landscapes, which may no longer exist in their original form. Our not only preserves cultural heritage but also provides an interactive and educational platform for users to delve into the tangible and intangible aspects of the ancient city, fostering a deeper connection with its rich history and cultural significance.
Perspectives
From a cultural heritage perspective, we represent an innovative and immersive way to explore and preserve the lost heritage of Suzhou through the application of Virtual Reality (VR) technology. By reinterpreting an 18th-century handscroll painting into a three-dimensional virtual environment, we offer a unique opportunity to experience and understand Suzhou's ancient landscapes, which may no longer exist in their original form. Our approach provides a platform for preserving and celebrating tangible and intangible cultural heritage and fosters a deeper engagement with Suzhou's historical and artistic legacy, thereby enriching our understanding and appreciation of this ancient city and its significance. By integrating historical information and creating an interactive environment, the research opens new avenues for exploring and connecting with the cultural heritage of Suzhou, ultimately offering a fresh perspective on how technology can be harnessed to unlock and showcase the beauty and history of ancient landscapes.
Professor Marc Aurel Schnabel
Xi'an Jiaotong Liverpool University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Inhabiting ‘Prosperous Suzhou’ - Interrogating ancient artwork and documents to manifest tangible and intangible heritage, Victoria University of Wellington Library,
DOI: 10.26686/wgtn.20389548.
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