INTERACTIVE ART
A CONTEMPORARY INTERPRETATION OF AN ANCIENT GRAPHIC
The objective was to create something artistic and interactive using ‘ancient graphics’. This led to the concept for an interactive thangka which is fundamentally an astrological diagram and an early form of information graphics. The interactive feature allows visitors to discover his or her Asian astrological animal sign by entering their date of birth or by clicking onto one of the 12 animals (Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig).
A thangka painter was scouted to produce the diagram in a traditional technique on cloth and precise visuals supplied to overcome the language barrier that existed between designer and artisan. The characteristics of each animal sign was researched and provided the database for integration into the digital thangka. Each of the zodiac animals repeats a 12-year cycle, and it’s believed that a person inherits the animal’s personality traits for the year they were born with unique characteristics.
