Digital Making for Inheritance and Enlivening Intangible Cultural Heritage: A Case of Hairy Monkey Handicrafts

Title of the Paper

Digital Fabrication for the Preservation and Revitalization of Intangible Cultural Heritage: A Case Study of Maohou Handicraft

Bibliographic Information

• Field of Study: Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), Digital Fabrication
• Keywords: Intangible Cultural Heritage, Digital Fabrication, Maohou Handicraft, Digital Technology, Cultural Preservation

Research Background and Issues

• Issues or Challenges Identified by the Authors:

  • Current efforts to preserve intangible cultural heritage using digital technology primarily focus on digital storage, exhibition, dissemination, and education, while production and reproduction (i.e., "living heritage transmission") have not received sufficient attention.
  • Traditional handicrafts like Maohou face challenges in transmission due to a lack of innovation, low engagement from younger generations, and limitations in material and craftsmanship, which restrict their collectible value and popularity.

• Importance:

  • Intangible cultural heritage represents a shared wealth of humanity, but traditional handicrafts are endangered. Living heritage transmission is key to preserving their cultural value.

• Motivation and Related Work:

  • Investigating whether digital fabrication can combine living innovation with traditional craftsmanship to achieve modernized preservation and transmission of intangible cultural heritage.
  • Previous studies have mainly focused on digital storage, exhibition, and dissemination of ICH, with limited discussion on its production and innovation.

Solution

• Method Proposed by the Authors:

  • Proposing "digital fabrication" as a new method to promote the transmission and innovation of intangible cultural heritage.
  • Organizing workshops to combine traditional Maohou handicraft with modern digital technology, providing participants with a platform for creation and inspiration.

• Innovative Aspects:

  • Emphasizing living heritage transmission by fostering creative practices that integrate traditional culture with the digital era.
  • Combining "intangible cultural heritage" and "digital fabrication" to explore their interactive benefits.

• Implementation Steps and Techniques:

  • Conducting educational workshops to teach the history, culture, and craftsmanship of Maohou.
  • Encouraging participants to use digital technologies (e.g., 3D printing, laser cutting, Arduino) to create diverse Maohou works.
  • Focusing on emotional experiences and technical learning during the fabrication process, including understanding historical culture, interdisciplinary training, and using digital tools.

Research Outcomes

• Specific Results:

  • Participants enhanced their understanding of traditional craftsmanship through creation, producing innovative Maohou works with interactive, dynamic, and creative features.
  • Digital technology revitalized Maohou by incorporating dynamic elements, scene design, and redefining its application (e.g., showcasing on NFT platforms).

• Advantages Compared to Existing Methods:

  • The authors emphasized living heritage transmission through fabrication rather than static preservation.
  • Highlighted cultural authenticity, allowing innovative works to retain traditional core elements while integrating modern characteristics.

• Experimental or Evaluation Results:

  • High participant satisfaction and emotional engagement.
  • Numerous works visually demonstrated the potential for interaction between digital technology and traditional culture.

• Limitations and Future Directions:

  • Due to the pandemic, some participants were unable to obtain materials or complete team collaborations as planned.
  • Suggested expanding the scope of research to apply digital fabrication methods to more complex intangible cultural heritage domains.
  • Proposed designing courses suitable for participants with varying skill levels, combining traditional cultural learning with digital fabrication skills.

Conclusion and Contributions

• Core Conclusions:

  • Digital fabrication is an effective way to integrate intangible cultural heritage with the modern sociocultural environment.
  • The creative process not only positively impacts participants but also breathes new life into cultural heritage.

• Academic Contributions:

  • Expanded the HCI community's understanding of technological applications in preserving intangible cultural heritage.
  • Explored how innovative design can balance cultural authenticity with modernization needs.

• Recommendations for Future Applications:

  • Digital fabrication workshops can be integrated with education and cultural transmission, promoted through collaborations with schools, makerspaces, interest groups, etc.
  • Further research could focus on attracting participants without design backgrounds and exploring digital fabrication solutions for preserving complex craftsmanship.