The Transcendental Gardens

Zhonghao Chen; 威廉 Wheeler; Juan Carlos Vasquez

The Transcendental Gardens

Zhonghao Chen (Designer)
, Wheeler 威廉 (Performer)
, Juan Carlos Vasquez (Composer)

AFCT Faculty

Research output: Practice-based research output › Exhibition/ Event/ Festival › Curated works: Physical Exhibition/ Event/ Festival

Abstract

This performance will present an innovative artistic experience that fuses digital technology, cultural heritage, and immersive interaction. The ensemble will perform with a meticulously designed portable Chinese garden art installation, in which traditional garden elements such as pavilions, plants, rocks, and flowing water are endowed with interactive functions, transforming them into triggerable audio-visual media. By touching different landscape features, performers activate real-time sound-and-image feedback, breathing new life into classical garden art within a digital dimension.

The conceptual foundation of this work draws inspiration from the Laptop Orchestra—a pioneering art form that reconstructs musical performance through computers, sensors, and digital technologies. Building on this foundation, the performance pushes beyond tradition, transforming the aesthetic poetics of the Chinese garden into an interactive audio-visual narrative. It explores innovative ways of expressing cultural heritage in the digital era. The audience will witness a poetic dialogue between technology and tradition and experience a multisensory cultural journey that transcends time and space.

Team Members

William Wheeler

Stela Delyanova Mihova

Shannia Velika Bustamin

Zhonghao Chen

The 2025 World Youth Development Forum (WYDF) in Suzhou attracted approximately 500 participants (presenters) from over 100 countries and regions and representatives from 17 international organisations. The event was live broadcast nationally and internationally.

Original language	English
Media of output	Online
Publication status	Published - 14 Jul 2025
Event	The World Youth Development Forum - Suzhou, China Duration: 14 Jul 2025 → …

Cite this

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title = "The Transcendental Gardens",

abstract = "This performance will present an innovative artistic experience that fuses digital technology, cultural heritage, and immersive interaction. The ensemble will perform with a meticulously designed portable Chinese garden art installation, in which traditional garden elements such as pavilions, plants, rocks, and flowing water are endowed with interactive functions, transforming them into triggerable audio-visual media. By touching different landscape features, performers activate real-time sound-and-image feedback, breathing new life into classical garden art within a digital dimension. The conceptual foundation of this work draws inspiration from the Laptop Orchestra—a pioneering art form that reconstructs musical performance through computers, sensors, and digital technologies. Building on this foundation, the performance pushes beyond tradition, transforming the aesthetic poetics of the Chinese garden into an interactive audio-visual narrative. It explores innovative ways of expressing cultural heritage in the digital era. The audience will witness a poetic dialogue between technology and tradition and experience a multisensory cultural journey that transcends time and space. Team Members William Wheeler Stela Delyanova Mihova Shannia Velika Bustamin Zhonghao Chen The 2025 World Youth Development Forum (WYDF) in Suzhou attracted approximately 500 participants (presenters) from over 100 countries and regions and representatives from 17 international organisations. The event was live broadcast nationally and internationally.",

author = "Zhonghao Chen and 威廉 Wheeler and Vasquez, \{Juan Carlos\}",

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N2 - This performance will present an innovative artistic experience that fuses digital technology, cultural heritage, and immersive interaction. The ensemble will perform with a meticulously designed portable Chinese garden art installation, in which traditional garden elements such as pavilions, plants, rocks, and flowing water are endowed with interactive functions, transforming them into triggerable audio-visual media. By touching different landscape features, performers activate real-time sound-and-image feedback, breathing new life into classical garden art within a digital dimension. The conceptual foundation of this work draws inspiration from the Laptop Orchestra—a pioneering art form that reconstructs musical performance through computers, sensors, and digital technologies. Building on this foundation, the performance pushes beyond tradition, transforming the aesthetic poetics of the Chinese garden into an interactive audio-visual narrative. It explores innovative ways of expressing cultural heritage in the digital era. The audience will witness a poetic dialogue between technology and tradition and experience a multisensory cultural journey that transcends time and space. Team Members William Wheeler Stela Delyanova Mihova Shannia Velika Bustamin Zhonghao Chen The 2025 World Youth Development Forum (WYDF) in Suzhou attracted approximately 500 participants (presenters) from over 100 countries and regions and representatives from 17 international organisations. The event was live broadcast nationally and internationally.

AB - This performance will present an innovative artistic experience that fuses digital technology, cultural heritage, and immersive interaction. The ensemble will perform with a meticulously designed portable Chinese garden art installation, in which traditional garden elements such as pavilions, plants, rocks, and flowing water are endowed with interactive functions, transforming them into triggerable audio-visual media. By touching different landscape features, performers activate real-time sound-and-image feedback, breathing new life into classical garden art within a digital dimension. The conceptual foundation of this work draws inspiration from the Laptop Orchestra—a pioneering art form that reconstructs musical performance through computers, sensors, and digital technologies. Building on this foundation, the performance pushes beyond tradition, transforming the aesthetic poetics of the Chinese garden into an interactive audio-visual narrative. It explores innovative ways of expressing cultural heritage in the digital era. The audience will witness a poetic dialogue between technology and tradition and experience a multisensory cultural journey that transcends time and space. Team Members William Wheeler Stela Delyanova Mihova Shannia Velika Bustamin Zhonghao Chen The 2025 World Youth Development Forum (WYDF) in Suzhou attracted approximately 500 participants (presenters) from over 100 countries and regions and representatives from 17 international organisations. The event was live broadcast nationally and internationally.

M3 - Exhibition/ Event/ Festival

T2 - The World Youth Development Forum

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ER -

The Transcendental Gardens

Abstract

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