The “Dunhuang Gifts” exhibition, which ended on Nov 9, showcases a fusion where digital technologies bring new life to this ancient artifact. By applying interactive projection and 3D modeling, the Art Museum of Contemporary & Cultural Technology (AMCCT) displays the Silk Road civilization by combining the “Mogao Grottoes Murals” and “Ritual Music” culture from Dunhuang. It allows audiences to witness, hear, and participate in this millennia-spanning cultural dialogue with their own eyes, ears, and hands.
What is Dunhuang?
Being listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Dunhuang, located in a crucial oasis hub along the Silk Road in Gansu Province, China, is an important crossroads for trade, religion, and culture. Its most renowned heritage site, the Mogao Caves, comprises a vast amount of tremendously crafted caves. During the culture exchange on the Silk Road, exquisite Buddhist sculptures were crafted and murals were painted, creating one of the world’s richest repositories of medieval art. These artistic works integrated cultural elements from China, India, Central Asia, and beyond, bearing witness to the continuous exchange of goods and ideas along the Silk Road. They provide invaluable materials for studying medieval history, religion, and social life. As a shared cultural heritage of humanity, Dunhuang stands not only as a testament to the dialogue of ancient civilizations but also as an immortal monument to human artistic creation and spiritual pursuit.
Please click here to explore more about the Mogao caves of Dunhuang.
Key Digital Interaction in Exhibition
The exhibition is divided into several core digital visualization parts of the Dunhuang culture, allowing visitors to interact and immerse in the dazzling world of Dunhuang shaped by modern technologies.
- The Lantern Journey Immersive Corridor
The Lantern Journey stands as one of the most innovative core interactive experiences in this exhibition. It completely breaks away from the traditional viewing model of “Do Not Touch,” designing a digital Dunhuang gallery that visitors can physically walk through. As visitors step into the darkened exhibition hall holding a psychical lantern, the surrounding walls and floor are instantly enveloped by massive digital projections reaching up to 3 meters in height.
“The interaction with the virtual murals and music makes me feel like I really step into the land of ancient Dunhuang.” said Tiffany Lam, a visitor walking in the corridor of Karma in the exhibition. As visitors walk forward, pause, or turn while holding lanterns, lotus flowers beneath their feet bloom in response. Musicians within the murals begin to play, and ribbons gently sway. This interaction transcends mere visual spectacle, creating a profound sense of presence—as if walking through the murals themselves.
- Touch Interaction: The Magic That Brings Murals to Life
In this exhibition area, the display of virtual murals starts in the dark. Instead of complex explanations of these murals, the exhibition encourages visitors to reach out and touch the artwork directly. Audiences “unlock” different art styles of the murals, like the flying apsaras, by waving their hands. Simultaneously, classical music starts playing once the visitors activate the murals with their hands.
This interactive experience vividly realized the exhibition’s vision of “making silent murals speak”. Marva Wong, the curator of the AMCCT explained, “I think our digital design implies the transition from observer to participant, which fosters a deeper emotional connection to Dunhuang culture and a willingness to actively share it.” The digital installation instantly bridged the gap between ancient art and modern audiences in a deeply engaging manner. This high-engagement approach effectively attracts tech-savvy young audiences, breathing new life into ancient cultures.
- Mediation Space
This is a relatively enclosed, quiet area where visitors can paint after the above exploration of the virtual interaction of Dunhuang. Visitors can experience drawing a classic Dunhuang element like a lotus flower or a passage from the Heart Sutra to follow how the ancient painters portrayed the meaning of Buddhist art in Dunhuang culture. As viewers deeply engage themselves into a clean realm, technology in this case transforms—no longer merely an engine for dazzling effects, but a bridge connecting the spirits of past and present.
The bigger picture behind technologies
This exhibition is a typical example of how modern methodologies break through the limitations and biases inherent in promoting heritage. Technologies successfully translated ancient Buddhist philosophies such as origination and emptiness into tangible artistic experiences, revealing the value of technology in serving humanity and enriching the human spirit.
“Here, technology transcends cold machinery. It successfully translates ancient Buddhist philosophies—such as dependent origination and emptiness—into tangible artistic experiences, revealing that technology’s highest value lies in serving humanity and enriching the human spirit.”, said Marva. In contemporary times, everyone can contribute their own unique way through a single interaction or a single act of sharing to add fresh blood to the ever-flowing river of culture.