NPM multimedia art exhibition opens in Bangkok

2018/10/22

A multimedia art exhibition with augmented and virtual reality interpretations of celebrated works in the National Palace Museum’s collection opened Oct. 17 in Bangkok as part of government efforts to deepen cultural exchanges with the Southeast Asian nation under the New Southbound Policy.
 
“Up the River During Qingming—NPM New Media Art Exhibition,” Taipei City-based NPM’s first show in Southeast Asia, is a collaboration with arts and antiques center River City Bangkok.
 
 The use of innovative technologies like AR and VR ensures visitors can enjoy an interactive and immersive experience while appreciating the beauty of the Chinese antiquities, the museum said.
 
 Running through Feb. 12, 2019, the show’s centerpiece is a video installation based on the famous painting “Up the River during Qingming” from the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). Projected on the wall, the animated version of the 11.5-meter scroll provides a close-up view of the vibrant riverside life depicted on the canvas.
 
 The event’s logo, the bridge from the painting, was chosen because it symbolizes the increasingly close ties between Taiwan and Thailand, said Lee Ching-hwi, the museum’s deputy director.
 
 NPM has been exploring ways to use new approaches like multimedia in introducing its collection to the public. Similar exhibitions in Italy and the U.S. have proved very successful, according to Lee.
 
 Another highlight of the Bangkok exhibition is “Marvels within the Sea,” an immersive installation inspired by traditional Chinese paintings of marine life. Visitors are handed a glowing wand that can be used to interact with the animation.
 
 In another part of the exhibition, VR headsets are worn to explore traditional Chinese landscape paintings such as “Autumn Colors on the Qiao and Hua Mountains,” created during the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368).
 
 A key plank in President Tsai Ing-wen’s national development strategy, the NSP aims to deepen Taiwan’s agricultural, business, cultural, education, tourism and trade ties with the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states, six South Asian countries, Australia and New Zealand.

Source: Taiwan Today (https://taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=18&post=143700)