Introduction
The rise of virtual reality created an innovative medium for the appreciation of art. Since 2015, the National Place Museum and HTC, the global leader in VR, have collaborated in reimagining and reinterpreting many masterpieces.
The immersive VR recreation of "The Spirit of Autobiography" (based on T'ang dynasty Huaisu's cursive script – Autobiography) and "Roaming through Fantasy Land" (based on Yuan dynasty painter Zhao Mengfu's "Autumn Colors on the Qiao & Hua Mountains") redefined the standard for digital art content.
In 2018, HTC VIVE team announced a new VR title based on the Qing Dynasty masterpiece "Up the River During Qingming". It enables viewers to examine the painting in great detail, and features interactive games of iconic scenes depicted in the scroll. Through the VIVE Pro headset, you can now appreciate art the way it was meant to be appreciated, and in ways never before thought possible.
This special exhibition includes:
●Up the River During Qingming VR: Rainbow Bridge
●Up the River During Qingming VR: Outdoor Theater
●Up the River During Qingming VR: Golden Orchid Restaurant
●"Roaming through Fantasy Land" & "The Spirit of Autobiography"
About Exhibit
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Up the River During Qingming VR – Rainbow Bridge
The iconic "Rainbow Bridge" scene consists of the hustles and bustles of a crowded market and passing cargo boats. Interact with the fascinating people and shops in a game, and take on a mission to assist a stranded boat to get a better understanding of river transportation.
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Up the River During Qingming VR – Outdoor Theater: "Phoenix Pavilion"
Chinese opera performances in portable outdoor theaters were popular forms of entertainment. In a fun game, you will choose the proper costumes, face makeup, and hair dresses for the actors, so that they are ready to perform.
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Up the River During Qingming VR – Golden Orchid Restaurant
The Golden Orchid Restaurant is situated at a prime location in front of the city entrance, offering a spectacular view of the river. Here, you can immerse in the house duties and learn about the origins of iconic Chinese dishes.
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Roaming through Fantasy Land
Roaming through Fantasy Land is a virtual reality adaptation of the late Sung and early Yuan dynasty painter Zhao Mengfu's Autumn Colors on the Qiao and Hua Mountains. The immersive virtual reality experience whisks the audience from the real world into a virtual fantasy land, in which one roams through the autumn scenery of Jinan Province depicted by Zhao Mengfu, proceeding along the contours of the sandbanks, the ancient Yellow River, pine trees, and the warm toned shallow waters. This installation allows the audience to partake in the profound friendship that spurred Zhao Mengfu to paint this masterpiece for Zhou Mi.
Artifact Inspiration: Autumn Colors on the Qiao and Hua Mountains, Zhao Mengfu, Yuan dynasty.
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The Spirit of Autobiography
The Spirit of Autobiography, inspired from Autobiography, the world-famous cursive script masterpiece produced by T'ang dynasty monk Huaisu, is the world's very first calligraphy virtual reality installation. In the original, Huaisu excerpts poetic praise given to him by his contemporaries, who compares his calligraphy to images in nature. A famous segment, "my brush varies as the snake glides poised into his post, or thrashes in tune with the windstorm upon the walls," captures the changing rhythm in Huaisu's brushwork.
In the virtual reality installation, the calligraphic text transforms rapidly from dragons and snakes into a storm. A dancer dances slowly in the diaphanous mist between water and sky, using his dance forms to interpret the speed and strength behind the calligraphy. Finally, a virtual brush can be used to practice writing calligraphy, allowing users to experience the spirit and intensity behind Huaisu's cursive script.
Artifact Inspiration: Autobiography, Huaisu, T'ang dynasty.