On October 24, UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris hosted a special exhibition showcasing the wall paintings of the Yongle Palace, along with a conference focused on the preservation, inheritance, and development of human artistic heritage in the digital age.
The event was organized by the People’s Government of Ruicheng County in Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province, in collaboration with the Yongle Palace Wall Painting Protection Research Institute and was executed by Civilization Fragments (Beijing) Cultural Development Co., Ltd. Attendees included Wang Ying, deputy representative of the Chinese Permanent Delegation to UNESCO; Zhang Rui, deputy mayor of Yuncheng City; Shang Yuliang, secretary of Ruicheng County; Xi Jiulong, director of the Yongle Palace Wall Painting Protection Research Institute; and Zhang Jing, president of the Global Youth Civilization Dialogue Alliance, among others.
The exhibition features a hand-painted replica of the famous Yongle Palace mural “The Arrival of the Gods,” allowing international visitors to experience the exquisite beauty of traditional Chinese mural art up close. It showcases advancements in artifact restoration using artificial intelligence, traditional mineral pigments used in murals, garment replicas, and applications of traditional culture in modern products. Experts at the event praised the mural’s splendor and grandeur, emphasizing China’s innovative practices in cultural heritage preservation and transmission, particularly how digital technology revitalizes ancient mural art in contemporary contexts.
Wang Ying expressed warm congratulations on the opening of the exhibition on behalf of the Chinese Permanent Delegation to UNESCO. In his remarks, he noted that this exhibition and seminar provide a valuable opportunity for dialogue between China, France, and the global community on cultural heritage preservation, fostering better understanding and cooperation among nations within diverse cultural contexts.
Zhang Rui stated that Yuncheng City is committed to inheriting and promoting traditional Chinese culture, allowing the world to appreciate the unique charm and depth of ancient Chinese culture. He declared the doors of Yongle Palace to be wide open to the world, expressing a desire to further explore and reveal the profound meaning and unique value of Yongle Palace art, while contributing to the prosperity and development of world culture.
During the seminar, Ms. Caroline Montaile, head of UNESCO’s Cultural Diversity Program and AI initiatives, delivered a speech highlighting the rapid development of artificial intelligence in the cultural sector and its implications for the creative industries. She emphasized that as the United Nations agency responsible for cultural affairs, UNESCO is dedicated to helping countries formulate relevant policies and strategies within digital ecosystems, promoting the preservation, transmission, and sustainable development of cultural heritage while ensuring that AI applications adhere to ethical standards and respect human rights and cultural diversity.
