Aesthetic Archaeology 

By Yinglin Zhou & Jieyuan Huang

Video & Animation

"Aesthetic Archaeology" is an artistic exploration that transcends time and technology, aiming to offer a fresh interpretation of ancient art aesthetics through the innovative application of mature computer vision techniques—specifically, recognition algorithms and GANs. Based on extensive analyses of art history literature and a wealth of visual materials, the artist combines the visual codes of traditional art with digital generative technology to create a virtual space imbued with both historical gravitas and modern technological beauty.

During the creative process, the introduced Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) represent established technology. However, the artist harnesses this classic model and its underlying principles in an innovative manner. By systematically distilling artistic elements and training on historical materials, the work not only recreates the aesthetic characteristics of early civilizations such as the prehistoric era, the Ancient Near East, and Ancient Egypt, but also breathes new life into these traditional aesthetics. Through meticulous analysis of extensive historical data, the artist extracts unique visual symbols and compositional elements specific to each period, subsequently training the model to generate new digital incarnations of these elements. This process ensures that the produced digital images uphold traditional aesthetics while simultaneously exhibiting the unique expression of modern digital art.

Within the work, the virtual space is divided into distinct areas: the wall sections feature graphics generated by the carefully trained GAN, which reinterprets the artistic styles and characteristic elements of various historical periods through a technical lens; the central exhibition area, on the other hand, showcases the virtual digital twins of core aesthetic elements derived from systematic analysis, presenting a visual feast where technology and art, classical and modern, seamlessly interweave. This layout not only demonstrates the remarkable effects of technological reproduction but also highlights the concept of "Aesthetic Archaeology"—an ongoing dialogue between history and the present achieved through the continuous excavation and reinvention of traditional aesthetics.

In summary, the "Aesthetic Archaeology" series is more than just an artwork; it is a profound exploration of history, technology, and aesthetics. By creatively applying classic computer vision techniques, the series demonstrates the artist's comprehensive deconstruction and reconstruction of art history and traditional materials, reflecting a unique contemplation on the progression of art and its future possibilities. This interdisciplinary endeavor aligns perfectly with the spirit of the CVPR AI Arts project, which encourages original breakthroughs built upon traditional technologies.