AI shows true colors of iconic artwork

Ancient masterpiece restored for a modern-day audience, report Wang Qian and Zhu Xingxin in Yuncheng, Shanxi.

Technology, such as artificial intelligence and deep learning, is reshaping the preservation and restoration of cultural heritage, bringing masterpieces back to their former glory and enabling people to appreciate their beauty beyond time and space.

At the UNESCO headquarters in Paris late last month, Fragments of Civilization — Exhibition on the Mural Art of the Yongle Palace displayed one of the latest examples of reviving cultural heritage in the digital era.

Chaoyuan Tu, or the painting of the heavenly court, was the highlight of the exhibition. Using AI technology, experts have brought the mural close to its authentic colors that were used about 800 years ago, making the original features of the mural a present-day reality that can be admired by visitors from around the world.