Bridging Traditions and Technology: The Recreation of Traditional Chinese Paintings in Virtual Reality

This master's thesis delves into the challenges and opportunities of using Virtual Reality (VR) as a medium for preserving and interacting with cultural heritage, with a particular focus on traditional Chinese paintings-a genre known for its unique artistic characteristics that pose specific challenges in VR translation. The investigation centres on the innovative application of VR technologies, using Tilt Brush to recreate three distinct artworks by Wu Guanzhong, an artist celebrated for his synthesis of traditional Chinese and modern techniques. The project begins with an in-depth analysis of the inherent difficulties in preserving and rendering traditional Chinese paintings in VR. It examines the essential qualities of these artworks, such as brush strokes, colour gradients, and spatial compositions, and how they can be authentically represented within a three-dimensional, interactive space. The study systematically reproduces three of Wu Guanzhong's paintings to explore these challenges firsthand, offering practical insights into the process and the technology's current limitations. Building on these reproductions, the thesis presents a series of observations and methodological recommendations aimed at improving VR's capacity to handle such complex artistic translations. These recommendations are then applied in the creation of an original VR artwork, which serves as a practical test case for the proposed techniques. This helped me test the validity of the earlier findings, while continuing to explore the potential of VR to create engaging, authentic experiences that remain true to the cultural and aesthetic essence of traditional art forms. In conclusion, the thesis reflects on the fidelity of VR in replicating traditional Chinese art but also contributes to broader discussions about the role of emerging technologies in cultural preservation. By documenting the challenges encountered and the solutions proposed, this research provides valuable guidelines for future projects aiming to integrate VR into the domain of art conservation and interaction, suggesting a promising, albeit complex, pathway for blending heritage with modern technology.