▲(immersive video content)Paintings of Ideal Life in Joseon
Visual effects (VFX) and content company Dexter Studios unveiled its take on the classic “Pyeongsaengdo,” 8-panel traditional screen depicting the ideal life people dreamed of during the late-Joseon Dynasty.
On August 23, Dexter Studios said it unveiled a reimagined version of the Pyeongsaengdo in a video titled the “Immersive video on the digital restoration of the Pyeongsaengdo” developed in collaboration with the National Museum of Korea. The new Pyeongsaengdo features eight digital panels, and will be on permanent display at the National Museum’s Immersive Digital Gallery 2. The Pyeongsaengdo will also be available online via the National Museum’s official website.
For the project, Dexter Studios played a leadership role in producing immersive digital heritage content, all the way from the planning stage for a dedicated web page featuring interactive elements to the final video production stage. It 3D modeled and rigged more than 500 assets to produce 4K videos animated with the Unreal Engine.
According to an official at Dexter Studios’ PR Team, “The Pyeongsaengdo had so many components such as grass, trees, people, animals, houses, and clothes, and we utilized the vast amount of data we own to create some truly realistic images.” He added, “In particular, this piece is a collection of vivid elements that require extra care, such as the ‘Cheongsa Chorong,’ which is a traditional lantern, and ‘Eosahwa,’ which is something people would wear on their head once they pass the public official’s exam. We tried to make these as dynamic as possible with three-dimensional movements.”
Pyeongsaengdo is a painting that depicts the life of aristocrats during the Joseon Dynasty period. Across eight panels, it gives the viewer a glimpse into the life of an aristocratic family, from a child’s first birthday party to a wedding, passing the public official’s exam, life as a public official, and celebrations for the 60th wedding anniversary. It reflects the dreams and ideals of the Joseon people, and it has outstanding value as an academic resource in that it can help scholars understand how exactly people led their lives during the latter stages of the Joseon Dynasty.
Pyeongsaengdo was also created into a 4-panel media folding screen, which is also on display at the National Museum of Korea. For international audiences with a limited understanding of Korean paintings and folding screens, this media production will soon be available in seven languages (Korean, English, Chinese, French, Russian, Vietnamese, and Dutch) to give it a chance to make its way onto overseas exhibitions or the Korea hall at overseas museums.
Dexter Studios’ CEO Kim Wook said, “Digital heritage is a new way to showcase our cultural heritage to the world in a whole new form.” He added, “In particular, the ‘Byeongpung’ we used for this project meant so much more to us because it was a form of art and culture enjoyed across a variety of families from the royal court to common folk during the Joseon Dynasty.” Co-CEO Kang Jong-ik also said, “Using Dexter’s advanced technology, we will continue to develop cultural heritage content with some great historical value. We promise to do our best in contributing to the preservation and promotion of our history and culture.”
Previously, Dexter Studios participated in the “2020 World Culture Center Immersive Video Content Production Project” hosted by the National Museum of Korea as well. There, it distilled the influence of Chinese ceramics and tea culture in the World Ceramics Gallery and the Japan Gallery into immersive content. In February and April of this year, Dexter Studios signed an MOU with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on the production of “Gwanghwa Mural,” a media art project for Gwanghwamun Gate, and on the Gyeongju Media Art Exhibition project. This, combined with the other government initiatives the company has engaged in so far, Dexter Studios is improving the reputation and reliability of its technology.
