Conference Agenda

This project introduces a 3D-based annotation and positioning system for the wall paintings of the Buddhist cave complexes in Kucha (Xinjiang, China). Many of these artworks are now dispersed across global collections, detached from their original architectural context. Using 3D-models, we reconstruct their spatial arrangement by applying a register-based coordinate system. These registers, implemented via 2D SVG-layouts, can be edited for each cave wall and are projected onto the corresponding surfaces in the 3D model. Each registered position includes a preview image of the associated painting. In-picture polygon annotations are integrated and linked to a hierarchical taxonomy displayed within the 3D model. Selecting an element highlights all paintings with those annotations, enabling both contextual and content-driven exploration. In the next phase, our annotations will be projected directly onto 3D surfaces for more precise visual analysis. This method offers a novel approach to spatially integrated 2D annotation in the Digital Humanities.