Technology gives 1,500-year-old temple art a modern twist

The three-dimensional mural formed from thousands of painted statues on the walls of the Shuilu'an Temple, in Lantian county of Shaanxi province, is hailed as one of the most stunning of its kind in the country.

Over the years, members of the School of Design and Arts at Beijing Institute of Technology, have worked with cultural heritage conservationists to revive this immense treasure with the help of advanced technological methods. The collaboration has now produced an exhibition that is touring nationwide, The Realm Beyond Imagery, which is on show at Zhuhai Gu Yuan Art Museum, in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, until March 29.

It celebrates the pinnacle of Chinese Buddhist art and classical sculpture with more than 110 works, including photos, digital interactive installations and creative designs. The cross-media narratives create an immersive experience to give the 1,500-year-old temple and its art a modern twist.