A towering media artwork recreating Korea’s National Treasures No. 78 and 83 in intricate digital detail — the height of a 9-story building

The Pensive Bodhisattva: Monumental Digital Installation at Incheon Airport T1

replica

video

Year

2023

Client

National Museum of Korea / Incheon International Airport Corporation

Shown at

Incheon International Airport T1 Millennium Hall

iF Design Award 2023 Winner : Public Branding

Greet with Korea's best smile

The National Museum of Korea is promoting the two Bodhisattva in Pensive Pose statues (National Treasures No. 78 and No. 83) as cultural icons representing Korea. As part of this initiative, TRIC created a large-scale immersive media artwork that reimagines these statues digitally — now greeting global travelers at Incheon International Airport.

Project background

This content was designed so that international travelers at the airport could encounter one of Korea’s most treasured artifacts — and experience the timeless serenity of the Bodhisattva’s smile in an immersive format. The installation reinterprets the artifact’s form and spirit using the language of digital technology.

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project stills

project stills

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High-Quality HPBR Rendering & Data Optimization

The scanned data consists of hundreds of thousands of polygons. To enable real-time rendering at such a large scale, TRIC applied advanced lightweighting techniques without compromising on resolution — resulting in ultra-smooth, high-quality visuals.

High-Quality HPBR Rendering & Data Optimization

The scanned data consists of hundreds of thousands of polygons. To enable real-time rendering at such a large scale, TRIC applied advanced lightweighting techniques without compromising on resolution — resulting in ultra-smooth, high-quality visuals.

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A Visual Narrative of Buddhist Aesthetics

The video follows a three-act structure inspired by Buddhist philosophy: Agony – Contemplation – Enlightened Smile. From shadow and tension to quiet thought and finally to radiant peace, the narrative captures the emotional arc reflected in the sculpture’s iconic expression.

A Visual Narrative of Buddhist Aesthetics

The video follows a three-act structure inspired by Buddhist philosophy: Agony – Contemplation – Enlightened Smile. From shadow and tension to quiet thought and finally to radiant peace, the narrative captures the emotional arc reflected in the sculpture’s iconic expression.

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100% CGI Created from High-Precision 3D Scans

Due to the statues’ display conditions, direct filming was impossible. Instead, TRIC used ultra-precise 3D scanning to capture even the subtlest details of the sculpture and enlarged them to a scale suitable for monumental digital projection.

100% CGI Created from High-Precision 3D Scans

Due to the statues’ display conditions, direct filming was impossible. Instead, TRIC used ultra-precise 3D scanning to capture even the subtlest details of the sculpture and enlarged them to a scale suitable for monumental digital projection.

100% CGI Created from High-Precision 3D Scans

Due to the statues’ display conditions, direct filming was impossible. Instead, TRIC used ultra-precise 3D scanning to capture even the subtlest details of the sculpture and enlarged them to a scale suitable for monumental digital projection.

Conclusion

The content premiered on June 17 at Incheon Airport Terminal 1, offering travelers from around the world a chance to encounter Korean heritage amidst their busy journeys. It was also showcased at London’s Saatchi Gallery and at Outernet, an urban immersive media venue at Tottenham Court Road, where local audiences experienced the essence of Silla Buddhist art in a new dimension. Through this project, TRIC not only advanced the digital transformation of cultural heritage but also opened a new horizon for expanding public engagement through media art. The initiative has been recognized as a milestone case, elevating the global profile of Korea’s National Treasure, the Pensive Bodhisattva, while demonstrating the vast potential of digital heritage content.

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Behind the scenes

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