project:virtual_3d_exhibition

This is an old revision of the document!


With our Hackathon prototype for a virtual 3D exhibition in VR we tackle several challenges:

• the challenge of exhibition space Many collections, especially small ones – like the Collection of Astronomical Instruments of ETH Zurich – have only a small or no physical space at all to exhibit their objects to the public

• the challenge of exhibiting light-sensitive artworks Some artworks – especially art on paper – are very sensitive to the light and are in danger of serious damaged when they are permanently exposed. That’s why the Graphische Sammlung ETH Zurich can’t present their treasures in a permanent exhibition to the public

• the challenge of involving the public Nowadays the visitors do not want to be reduced to be passive consumers, they want and appreciate active involvement

• the challenge of the scale In usual 2D digital presentations the user does not get information about the real scale of the artworks and gets wrong ideas about the dimensions

• the challenge of showing 3D objects in the digital space Many museum databases show only one or two digital images of their 3D objects, so the user gets only a very limited impression

Our Hackathon prototype for a virtual 3D exhibition in VR

• offers unlimited exhibition space in the virtual reality

• makes it possible to exhibit light sensitive artworks permanently using their digital reproductions

• involves the public inviting them to slip into the role of the curator

• shows the artwork in the correct scale

• and gives the users the opportunity to walk around the 3D objects in the virtual space

We unveil a window into a future where you can create, curate and experience virtual 3D expositions in VR. We showcase a first exposition with a 3D-Model of a globe from the Astronomical Collection of ETH Zurich as a centerpiece and works of art from the Graphische Sammlung ETH Zurich surrounding it. Users can experience our curated exposition using a state-of-the-Art VR headset, the HTC Vive.

Our vision has massive value for practitioners, educators and students and also opens up the experience of curation to a broader audience. It enables art to truly transcend borders, cultures and economic boundaries.

A first version of our VR Environment:

Our code is on Github and will be made public on sunday.

We are using Unity with the SteamVR Plugin to deploy on the HTC Vive.

Our backend is written in Java and uses MongoDB

The Databases and Information Systems Group at the University of Basel is the home of a majority of our project members. Our hardware was borrowed for the weekend from the Gravis Group from Prof. Vetter.

  • Dataset with digital images (jpg) and metadata (xml) of instruments from the Astronomical Collection of ETH Zurich
  • Graphische Sammlung ETH Zurich, Collection Online, four sample datasets with focus on bodies in the air, portraits, an artist (Rembrandt) and different techniques (printmaking and drawing)
  • project/virtual_3d_exhibition.1540671301.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2018/10/27 22:15
  • by silvanheller