IN 1937, Angela Latham, a British journalist, published an article in the Illustrated London News about her visit to Fahai Temple in the western suburbs of Beijing.

Fahai Temple was first built in 1439. It is noted for its frescoes, known as the “three major frescoes in China” together with the murals found in Dunhuang and Yongle Palace.

“To me, as a fresco painter, the technique of these Ming paintings seems to be superb, in every way comparable to that of the greatest masters,” she said.

Fahai Temple was repeatedly damaged or destroyed in the history. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, the Chinese Government appropriated funds for overhaul four times. The historical appearance of the temple was restored, and its murals have been preserved to this day.

Although the frescoes of Fahai Temple, which look resplendent and have the effect of three-dimensional reliefs, are still shining after nearly 600 years, those who want a clearer picture of their original magnificence might not feel enough.

To meet such demands for a clearer picture, an immersive digital art gallery themed on Fahai Temple murals made its debut to the public in January.

At the exhibition of Fahai Temple Mural Art Center, the original scale of mural paintings is presented with a 4K HD display. Each one of the 77 figures is portrayed with immaculate attention to detail by 3D modeling of pixel-level.

The facial details of Water-moon Avalokitesvara, one of the most representative figures on the frescoes of Fahai Temple, are hard to make out in dim conditions. However, after 3D modeling, the over 3-meter-high figure’s face can be seen clearly on the 4K HD screen at the Mural Hall in the basement of the art center.

“The advantage of the digital display is that it can break the limitations of time and space so that the audience has enough time to understand the rich historical and cultural connotations they carry,” said Liu Xiaobo, curator of the art center. (Xinhua)