With the arrival of Tang dynasty treasures from Xian, China, the Art Gallery of New South Wales engaged FRD to redesign its upper and lower Asian galleries for a temporary exhibition program.
FRD drew design inspiration from the gridded streets of ancient Xi’an, combining existing showcases and gallery installations with custom-built joinery and dynamic lighting interventions. Tang dynasty murals, sculptures and ceramics were brought to life in this way, exploring themes such as religious tolerance, the rise and fall of Buddhism and innovations in the arts. A specially-commissioned model of the Famen Temple Pagoda was developed, accompanied by artefacts discovered at its archaeological site.
Visitor immersion was further enhanced with the development of the augmented reality experience Pure Land: Inside the Mogao Grottoes at Dunhuang. Utilising a handheld device, visitors stepped into a virtual reconstruction of the Mogao Grottoes and explored their deep archaeological significance through animated interpretive displays.
