【新闻】“生命艺术——马王堆汉代文化沉浸式数字大展”荣获2025年“全球世界遗产教育创新案例奖”

On July 8 local time, the thematic side event “World Heritage Education Towards the Future—Global Innovative Network and Capacity Building” of the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee was held at Room VII of UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. At the event, the winners of the 2025 Global Awards for World Heritage Education Innovative Cases (AWHEIC) were officially announced. Jointly developed by Hunan Museum, Digital Library of China Co., Ltd, and Professor Eugene Y. Wang’s team at Harvard FAS CAMLab, “The Art of Life: Multimedia Exhibition of Mawangdui Han Culture” (hereafter referred to as “The Art of Life”) stood out from nearly 150 entries worldwide and won the “Star of Outstanding” award that recognizes projects adopting pioneering cross-border approaches with demonstrable impact and offering replicable experience of global significance.

The AWHEIC is jointly established by the World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for the Asia and the Pacific Region under the auspices of UNESCO (WHITR-AP) and the World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centres and Associations (WFUCA). As the first and only international award dedicated to innovation in heritage education, it aims to integrate heritage protection with technology and creativity. “The Art of Life” earns the “Star of Outstanding” for its groundbreaking presentation and far-reaching cultural impact. The recognition not only affirms the exhibition’s excellence in design innovation but also highlights its effectiveness and replicability as a model for cross-border communication.

Interior view of “The Art of Life” exhibition

The exhibition is the result of three years of elaborate planning, integrating cutting-edge academic research, digital art innovation, and the latest multimedia technologies. As one of the largest single-project investments in digital exhibitions in the cultural relics and museum field, it reflects Hunan Province’s efforts to implement the CPC Central Committee’s directive on integration between culture and technology. A new paradigm is established for digital exhibitions in Chinese museums, enabling Mawangdui culture to reach global audiences and contributing to the growth of new quality productive forces.

“The Art of Life” was on view at the Hunan Museum from June 8, 2024, to May 18, 2025, and received approximately 630,000 visitors in total.