By Li Xinyi, compiled and reported
Those who visited Taipei’s Expo Dreamland pavilion are sure to remember the magical scene where flowers slowly bloom and petals flutter through the air at just a wave of the hand; those who saw the Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival at the Shanghai Expo will recall following the figures in the painting as they walk into the artwork; but this time, at the "Animated Dunhuang Exhibition" held at Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, Taiwanese creative professionals have collaborated with a multinational production team from the UK, the US, and mainland China. Using Hollywood MOCAP technology and software, they have unveiled the mysteries of Dunhuang Cave 220 for the first time, allowing you to wave your hand and watch a Flying Apsara gracefully dance out of the Dunhuang murals, taking you back to the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty.
Flying Apsaras in naked-eye 3D. (Photo provided by Xianglong Co., Ltd.)
The Animated Dunhuang Exhibition is the first to combine Hollywood MOCAP motion capture technology, floating projection technology, holography production techniques, and infrared interactive sensing technology in an exhibition. It brings static Dunhuang mural stories, dancing Flying Apsaras, and Tang Dynasty court musicians to life. Through the integration of digital technology and music, it skillfully combines real dynamic imagery with special effects, allowing visitors to immediately experience vivid Dunhuang stories and musical enjoyment upon entering the venue. Among the exhibits, the floating projection technique combined with live-action filming and motion capture, showcasing the elegant postures of Flying Apsaras, has been particularly talked about. It is the first in Taiwan to interpret Dunhuang murals through imagery, making the Hu Xuan dancing girls on the murals twirl to ancient music.
Relief projection of Amitabha Buddha making a hand seal. (Photo provided by Xianglong Co., Ltd.)
Director Ma Qingzhong, who studied in the UK, has created full-scale 3D animations of the 159 Dunhuang deities in the *Amitabha Pure Land Transformation Painting*, including dancers, musicians, gods, Buddhas, and auspicious animals. Using their unique expressions and movements, combined with a professional team of animation directors and dance instructors, motion capture photography technology was applied to create dynamic scenes. Ancient-style arranged digital music was added and edited into a complete animation according to the storyline. This allows audiences to clearly see each figure performing their divine duties and aiding the Buddha in preaching. The exhibition also features Taiwan’s first naked-eye 3D relief projection of the Amitabha Buddha statue. When praying for wishes before the Buddha, dynamic hand seals of blessings appear instantly, allowing close interaction with the great Buddha statue. Visitors can also write their wishes on prayer cards and take the blessings of the Buddha home.
Exhibition website: www.dunhuangart.com.tw