Technology gives tradition new zest

Wang Yan has come to a deeper understanding of her hometown since she signed herself up for a cultural and creative art competition at the end of last year.

The 19-year-old, who is studying art at Tianjin University of Finance and Economics, saw a notice for "The Heart of Beijing" Perfect World Campus Art Design Award seeking submissions from students, and the category of "showcasing hometown influence" caught her attention.

The competition was hosted by the culture and tourism bureau of Dongcheng district in Beijing and the gaming and movie conglomerate Perfect World, also based in the city. It was aimed at driving the innovative development of cultural industries, and promoting the international exchange of traditional Chinese culture.

"I was in quarantine at home then and I figured I could make use of my free time and all the videos I took during prior travels to present my impressions about my hometown," says Wang, who was born in Hezuo city, Gannan Tibetan autonomous prefecture, Northwest China's Gansu province.

As she collated and edited the short videos she made over the years, she came to realize how beautiful and influential her hometown was.

In her submitted video, herds of sheep and cattle cross vast, green grasslands under a clear blue sky, while polychromatic prayer flags flutter in the wind. Pious Tibetan women turn the prayer wheels in Tibetan Buddhist temples, and distinctive buildings stand neatly on clean streets.

"When I think of my hometown, there are too many things that come to mind — the vast grasslands and the kind people," Wang explains the elements in her work.

"To tell the story of my hometown through the lens and present it in the form of a short video is something that makes me proud."

Her work has paid off, earning her a bronze medal at the competition.

Wang was among the award winners invited to share their experiences at the competition's award ceremony in Beijing in April, which also featured an exhibition of their works.

Many of the submissions put a distinctly modern twist on their subject matter. Some even applied artificial intelligence or augmented reality to give viewers a taste of distant places and historical legacies.

"In terms of creative form, this competition did not impose too many restrictions on students," says Lu Xiaoyin, co-CEO and president of Perfect World.

"Students could use graphic design, short film production, or AI painting to present the interaction between traditional culture and technology."

The competition required that the entries integrate traditional Chinese cultural images, explore their cultural connotations and historical significance, and convey the values they represent.

At the beginning of the competition, organizers arranged riddles about Chinese culture and promotional videos featuring intangible cultural heritage for attendees, according to Lu.

"We saw that students had huge enthusiasm for interpreting traditional culture and injected fresh perspectives," Lu says.

The competition received diverse submissions, covering many themes and focusing on the integration of traditional culture and modern technology.

The candidates were enrolled in various majors, including graphic and digital arts, film and television media.

More than 4,100 students from over 500 domestic and overseas universities participated in the competition in three categories: tradition and art, commercial design and AI painting.

They created more than 2,700 works for the competition. For the final round, 266 of the most outstanding works were selected after evaluations by an expert panel.

A total of 221 awards were presented at the closing ceremony, including gold, silver, and bronze medals.

Winners will have opportunities to work with experienced designers and companies, and have their products commercialized.

Traditional Chinese cultural products, such as paper-cutting, Peking Opera facial makeup, cloisonne metalwork and kites, were presented in unique ways.

For example, the competition introduced the latest AI painting technology that enabled students from outside traditional art and design majors — including in the fields of law, finance and medicine — to express their artistic flair.

"Whether in art or in the gaming industry, AI is still in its early stages of development. Many events, including this competition, are part of our exploration of the development and application scenarios of AI technology," Lu says.

"The extent to which AI technology can develop will have a profound impact on the world."

Dou Zhiyu from Hohhot-based Inner Mongolia Agricultural University submitted two sets of black-and-white costumes featuring Chinese ethnic designs and surreal light elements using AI painting.

The 23-year-old has been studying computer science and has kept an eye on the development of AI in recent years.

"The technology has enabled me to express my artistic ideas," Dou says. His work was highlighted by the competition's judges, which has increased his confidence in the potential of the technology.

The campus competition has been staged three times, attracting more than 10,000 students from nearly 600 universities worldwide.

"In this competition, a large number of creative works integrate digital technology, AI-generated art and traditional culture," says Hu Guowei, an official from Dongcheng district.

"Through innovative and creative methods, students have demonstrated their reflections on traditional culture."

Speaking about the significance of the competition, Hu says it makes culture more accessible to the public and the market.

"We look forward to more participants from domestic and overseas universities going beyond time and space with their imagination, and using innovative and creative ways to embrace the present and the future with traditional culture."

Wang says it's the sincerity of her work that won her the award.

"This competition has let me see the charm of short videos and how they can help us better appreciate things we might take for granted and give us food for thought," she says.