Poetic realities: reimagining Jiangnan through virtual reality and fashion catwalk performance

This paper explores the artistic fusion of Virtual Reality (VR) and live performance to reinterpret the cultural and fashion heritage of Jiangnan, centred on the iconic site of Shajiabang. Drawing from performance studies, particularly the concepts of liveness (Auslander Citation2008) and transformative aesthetics (Fischer-Lichte Citation2008), the project conceptualizes the fashion catwalk, live VR painting, and digital scenography as interdependent performative elements within a single live event. The performance reimagines Shajiabang’s cultural motifs through VR-enabled Live Painting synchronized with a fashion catwalk, a process inspired by classical poetry and traditional Chinese painting techniques that converts static cultural symbols into dynamic staged visual progressions. This approach underscores a dual role for digital art in both preserving and actively reinterpreting culture, demonstrating how hybrid VR-performance can elicit emotional resonance and multisensory engagement. Post-performance interviews with audience members substantiate these outcomes, revealing heightened emotional connections, enhanced sensory involvement, and a reconfigured perception of Jiangnan identity that transcends conventional heritage frameworks. Ultimately, the project disrupts established divides between tradition and innovation, framing cultural heritage as an evolving, living story. Through this lens, the paper establishes the integration of VR with live performance as a compelling approach to advancing contemporary art and cultural discourse.