The Virtual Time Machine

Project Description

This project explores whether Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) can serve as a "virtual time machine" to represent intangible cultural heritage (ICH) across multiple temporalities, with a specific focus on the Cheung Chau Bun Festival in Hong Kong. The authors use GenAI to reimagine historical documentation, speculate on the Festival’s future, and then create an interconnected narrative. To showcase these AI-generated audiovisuals, two artworks were created: an interactive video installation, Folding Fan, and an AI short film, SAIENTIENT?. User perceptions of these artworks were assessed through an open-ended survey, exploring how GenAI can blend different temporalities and establish links between the past, present, and future in heritage storytelling. Preliminary findings suggest that GenAI has the potential to transform traditional heritage into nuanced emotional experiences, deepening audiences' understanding of the evolution and significance of cultural heritage.