The Art of Life:Multimedia Exhibition of Mawangdui Han Culture Kicked off in the Hunan Museum

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the completion of archaeological excavation of the Mawangdui tombs, "The Art of Life:Multimedia Exhibition of Mawangdui Han Culture" is presented by the Hunan Museum and the Digital Library of China, in collaboration with Professor Eugene Wang’s team from the Harvard FAS CAMLab.

On the afternoon of June 7, the opening ceremony of "The Art of Life:Multimedia Exhibition of Mawangdui Han Culture" was held in the art hall on the first floor of the Hunan Museum. More than 100 guests from the Publicity Department of the CPC Hunan Provincial Committee, the Hunan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, the Hunan Provincial Department of Science and Technology, the Cultural Heritage of Hunan, the Hunan Museum, the Digital Library of China, and  the Harvard FAS CAMLab attended the opening ceremony.

The exhibition is composed of three sections: time and space, yin and yang, and life. Based on making full use of cutting-edge academic research results and scientific and technological means, the exhibition vividly explains the tombs structure, numerous artifacts, cultural concepts and humanistic thoughts of the Mawangdui tombs, and skillfully presents the grand imagination and artistic expression of the universe and life in the ancient China, create a knowable and perceptible "journey through time and space" for the audience.

The exhibition integrates multiple sensory experiences. The time and space section uses multimedia narrative methods to cleverly show the structure and overall layout of the Mawangdui tombs coffin chamber, as well as the rich unearthed cultural relics. It is like a universe model containing mysterious cosmic model, embodying the profound thinking and romantic expression of ancient people on the operation of the universe.

The yin and yang section focuses on the "dispersion and gathering of yin and yang" contained in the four sets of coffins in tombs No. 1 of the Mawangdui tombs. The infinitely intertwined and dynamically flowing cloud patterns float in front of visitors, as if they have crossed the boundaries of time and space, and have a close experience of the ancient people's endless exploration of the mystery of life and the grand imagination of spiritual sublimation.

In the life section, the T-shaped painting on silk from Xin Zhui’s tombs once again ushered in its "highlight moment". This section uses immersive LED dome screens, dynamic graphics rendering, digital restoration of cultural relics and other technologies. The audience seems to be in the "from earth to heaven" ceremony depicted in silk paintings, deeply experiencing the transformation and ascension of life, and getting a glimpse of the thoughts of 2000 years ago. 

General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed the integration of "culture plus science and technology" during his inspection of Hunan province. Thirteen departments including the Central Publicity Department, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China, and the National Cultural Heritage Administration issued the Opinions on Strengthening Scientific and Technological Innovation in Cultural Heritage. At the same time, the Hunan Provincial Chief Shen Xiaoming instructed to accelerate the in-depth integration of culture and technology, strive to seize the pinnacle of scientific and technological innovation, and promote the high-quality development of Hunan's cultural undertakings and cultural industries, the Hunan Museum strives to become "the most dazzling digital museum in the world.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the completion of archaeological excavation of the Mawangdui tombs. "The Art of Life:Multimedia Exhibition of Mawangdui Han Culture" is an important measure taken by the Hunan Museum to deeply implement the instructions of the CPC Central Committee and the provincial Party Committee and Government on the integration of culture and technology. It is also one of the largest digital exhibitions in the national cultural and expo industry, and will be exhibited worldwide.

This exhibition integrates the world's leading academic resources, uses cutting-edge multimedia technology, and uses a digital multimedia theater to create a new interpretation of the Mawangdui tombs, a world-shaking cultural heritage, and fully present the essence of early Chinese civilization and artistic achievements it condenses. While displaying the art, imagination and cognition of the world carried by Mawangdui tombs culture in an all-round way, this exhibition strives to create a new paradigm of digital display of cultural heritage with global influence.

The Mawangdui tombs provide extremely valuable information for studying the ancients' outlook on life and the world. The exhibition will excavate the IP cultural elements of Mawangdui and use cutting-edge digital technology to make the exhibition "virtual and real" , digitize cultural relics and their elements, and fully demonstrate the cultural life of people in the Han Dynasty, people's understanding of the outlook on life and the universe during this period, as well as their yearning and reverence for the sublimation of life.

The exhibition will be open to the public in the No.1 Special Exhibition Hall on the first floor of the Hunan Museum from June 8, 2024 to February 16, 2025. Visitors can log in to the official WeChat account of Hunan Museum or "The Art of Life:Multimedia Exhibition of Mawangdui Han Culture" to purchase tickets.