The Macau Cultural Affairs Bureau’s (IC) “Visiting the Ruins of St Paul through Space and Time” Virtual Reality (VR) exhibition kicked off yesterday at the Ruins of St Paul’s.
According to a statement by the bureau, the first phase of the exhibition, which will run from today through January 31, will open to visitors by appointment with free admission.
The statement said that those aged above five can participate in the event after they have signed up for the first session of the exhibition through the bureau’s event registration system: www.icm.gov.mo/eform/event. The statement underlined that participants aged below 12 must be accompanied by one adult when experiencing the event.
The statement noted that if the number of applicants exceeds the quota, a lucky draw will be held, after which, successful applicants will be notified by text messages.
The exhibition is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, including public holidays, the statement pointed out, which stressed that advance registration is required.
In addition, according to the statement, the exhibition will also launch a WeChat prize game with the theme of “Priest’s Commission”, by which participants can create a virtual character to visit the Ruins of St Paul’s and complete a set of tasks in order to be able to win one of the limited edition digital prizes.
Details about the game and exhibition can be found at www.wh.mo/stpaulvr.
IC President Leong Wai Man said in a speech during yesterday’s kick-off ceremony that the exhibition is a major breakthrough in the protection and preservation of Macau’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites through digital technology. For the first time, she added, advanced simulation technologies such as Three-Dimensional Modelling, Naked-Eye 3D, VR and Augmented Reality (AR) are being comprehensively used to create a “detailed restoration of the historical features of the original church, connecting historical facts with virtual space and passing through the glorious past from the remains of today”, enabling the public to gain a glimpse of the past and present life of the Ruins of St Paul’s while immersing themselves in the experience of the Baroque architecture of 400 years ago.
Leong pointed out that aside from representing an “important first step” in the digital development of local UNESCO World Heritage Sites’ resources, the exhibition also symbolises the opening of a new chapter in the activation and preservation of local cultural heritage. Leong promised that her bureau would further promote the work of digital culture, add “more vivid and rich tools” for telling stories of cultural exchanges between Macau and the Occident, and enable China’s splendid civilisation reflected in Macau’s diverse culture to be more alive and to go global with the help of science and technology.
According to Leong, St Paul’s College which was founded in 1594, was the first Western-style higher education institution in China. St Paul’s College was also “the cradle of modern cultural exchanges between China and the West” which marked the history and contribution of Macau as the starting point of cultural exchanges between China and the Occident. A fire in 1835 destroyed most of St Paul’s College and the Church of the Mother of God, leaving only the church’s façade, foundations and stone steps intact.
Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) President Leong Wai Man delivers a speech during yesterday’s kick-off ceremony of the government’s “Visiting the Ruins of St Paul through Space and Time” Virtual Reality (VR) exhibition. – Photos: Yuki Lei
