World Economic Forum // Pure Land: The Mogao Grottoes at Dunhuang

During the 2015 World Economic Forum in Dalian, China, three geodesic domes were installed in the main lobby of the congress building and hosted a range of activities and discussions during the accompanying congress program. The project „Pure Land: The Mogao Grottoes at Dunhuang“ by the Australian artists Sarah Kenderdine and Jeffrey Shaw was presented in the “Cave Dome.” THE SOUND OF THE MOUNTAIN was commissioned with planning and operating the spatial audio system inside the dome. By using MNTN and virtual acoustics simulation, the audience had the impression of being fully immersed in authentic cave acoustics.

Visitors could virtually step inside one of the famous Mogao Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The grottoes are an ensemble of almost 500 caves in the Dunhuang region and had been constructed inside cliffs by Buddhist monks nearly 1.500 years ago. The walls and ceilings of the caves are painted with elaborate religious imagery and decorated with sculptures. Unfortunately, the constant flow of visitors flocking to the beautiful Mogao Grottoes has left their trace: a part of the caves had to be closed to the public to prevent further deterioration of the artworks. The sensual experience of setting foot inside the „Cave 220“ was once again possible with the help of this digital replica. Standing beneath the Cave Dome’s sloping ceiling, visitors were transported to the desert caves and invited to browse through the collection of ancient objects, all represented in larger-than-life 3D imaging.

 
featured projectsJohannes ScherzerDalian, Chinaimmersive environments, spatial audio, interactive installation, room simulation