3D Guqin: Digital Playground to Explore Music that Embodies Chinese Culture and Philosophy

Abstract

This media art installation aims to digitally reconstruct a traditional Chinese Guqin string instrument using physical sensing techniques, to invite bodily interpretation of the classical instrument. Guqin has a unique place in the Chinese history, as a symbol of the high culture of the nobles and intellectuals (Junzi, Superior Man). It's also seen as the vessel for pursuing harmony. Guqin is sometimes referred to by the Chinese as "the father of Chinese music" or "the instrument of the sages". This work allows the performer and audience to experience three dimensions of the Chinese culture: sound, movement and emotion. The setup consists of an interactive instrument with "strings" created by laser light, designed to allow meaningful intervention of movements to trigger the sound. The movements of the dancer is analysed using a Kinect camera in the EON Interact software. The performer will also wear bend and pressure sensors at different parts of the body to create layer of sound effects. The emotion of the performer will be sensed by a heartbeat sensor, which in turn translates into the temperature actuation (heating and cooling) at the palm rest of the audience, so that they could feel the additional sensation of the performance.