Through the City Scroll: Digital Exhibition

Hsinchu Scroll reinterprets the traditional Chinese handscroll as a large-scale interactive installation, transforming the exhibition from a static display into a dynamic, unfolding spatial narrative. Rooted in the aesthetics of literati gardens from the Tang and Song dynasties and inspired by the cultural landscape of Hsinchu, the project bridges historical memory with contemporary urban identity. It proposes a new exhibition paradigm in which visitors do not merely observe culture but actively participate in its continuous re-creation.

The installation spans two expansive galleries, guiding visitors through a carefully choreographed “scroll-like” journey. The experience begins with references to classical garden scenery and gradually transitions into a speculative digital cityscape. Through infrared sensing and motion tracking technologies, visitor movement directly activates generative visuals, simulating flowing ink, drifting landscapes, and the poetic rhythm of the traditional “Meandering Water” gathering. In dedicated tea and music zones, sensory inputs such as steam and sound are translated into real-time visual transformations, merging physical rituals with digital expression. The journey culminates in a co-creation space, where visitors contribute digital calligraphy, becoming part of the evolving narrative.

Technologically, the project addresses the underrepresentation of non-Western aesthetics in digital media. Custom-developed shaders and fluid simulation systems reinterpret the “spirit resonance” (Qi Yun) of ink wash painting, ensuring that the generative visuals retain an organic, expressive quality. By integrating infrared depth sensing and acoustic analysis, the installation creates a responsive environment where human presence and ambient conditions continuously reshape the visual output.

A key innovation lies in “computational urban mapping,” which synthesizes Hsinchu’s contemporary architecture with the compositional logic of classical scroll painting. This transforms a historically linear format into a living, data-driven environment. Through its integration of art, technology, and cultural research, Hsinchu Scroll establishes a new model for interactive exhibitions—one that enables heritage to evolve, adapt, and resonate within a digital future.