The Shanxi Institute for the Preservation of Ancient Architecture and Mural Paintings recently signed a memorandum of cooperation with Harvard University's Chinese Art Media Lab (CAMLab), marking the beginning of a collaborative effort in the digital preservation and artistic exhibition of Shanxi province's ancient buildings.

Adhering to the principles of cultural relic revitalization, digitization, and internationalization, they plan to showcase the architecture, colored sculptures, and murals of Foguang Temple and Nanchan Temple digitally through data integration, VR immersive experiences, and multimedia exhibitions.

Foguang Temple. [Photo/Yellow River News]

The collaboration will also employ offline exhibitions, online displays, international academic conferences, and publications to enhance the global influence of Shanxi's ancient architecture.

This partnership represents a significant exploration of digitally reviving cultural treasures, starting with these projects at Foguang Temple and Nanchan Temple. The goal is to gradually transform China's rich architectural heritage into globally accessible digital resources.

Plans include organizing international conferences, research trips, and lectures and publishing bilingual catalogs to provide an enriched platform for research, learning, and exchange for the public and academics.

The CAMLab at Harvard University, founded by Eugene Y. Wang, the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller professor of Asian Art, serves as an international platform integrating cutting-edge academic research and multimedia artistic creativity.