Digital Modeling of Buddha Sculptures

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Published: Oct 22, 2013
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Blend Animation Morphing Southeast Asian Style Sukhothai Buddha Visualization

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Sawitree Wisetchat
Department of Research in 3D Visualization, School of Design, The Glasgow School of Art, Digital Design Studio, Glasgow, United Kingdom

Abstract

The Sukhothai Buddha (1238-1438 CE) a distinct sculptural style developed which is still characteristic of Thai Sculpture Style today. TheSukhothai style inherited some artistic elements from its precursors, yet evolved through a remarkable process of refinement and invention. This study considers the visualization of this evolution. Conventionally, styles are analyzed and compared through written descriptions with reference to still images. It is difficult, however, to visually appreciate the evolution of style by such means. A new technique is adapted from digital character animation to assist in the visualization of style differences and to illustrate style evolution. By modeling sculptures of different styles as variations ona common shape, blend animation allows one style to change smoothly into another by interpolation. The viewer can now better appreciate style differences, not by shifting gaze from one to another, but by watching onebecome another, wherein their differences attract visual attention.

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Article Details

Issue
Volume 13, Number 2 (July - December), 2013
Section
Articles

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