Ancient Forms, Modern Minds: Artificial Intelligence in the Revival of Chinese Sculpture

Abstract

It is within this context of continuous recontextualization of traditional sculpture that this review paper unfolds by examining the interaction of Chinese ancient sculpture with present-day AI technologies. The art of sculpture in China has changed and has been rooted in a long history of producing sculpture recreations for over thousands of years, with the Tang dynasty tending toward naturalism and the spiritual element in the piece, especially in Buddhist influence. Although old forms nowadays can be considered innovative in terms of contemporary art, AI appeared to be the enabling means in recent years. In the given paper, the author analyzes case examples of the performance of AI algorithms in making AI digital reproductions of iconic artworks, interpreting new representations of the classical Buddhist figures, and developing new means for audience engagement through IoT technology. Examining such connections, the paper responds to essential concerns regarding authorship, creativity, and the position of the artist in the modern world. At last, this study discovers that this extension of Chinese sculpture through AI is an homage to its past while at the same time transforming it into present and future discourse, creating a subversion of the uncanny. Self-Planning As artists progress in using AI, the blend of traditional and conventional art with new technology revives and changes the perspective of Chinese sculpture’s future, more connected to their roots.