This study re-examines the Tang Dynasty “paired-deer roundel motif” as both a historical artifact and a dynamic cultural symbol in contemporary contexts. While often treated as decorative, the motif embodies intercultural exchange, economic prosperity, and spiritual meaning. The research asks how such patterns, when reinterpreted through visual culture and digital media, function as living cultural mediums that connect tradition and innovation. Methodologically, the study adopts an interpretive and cultural-historical approach, combining visual analysis of textile artifacts with comparative readings across contemporary media representations. Case studies of cross-media adaptations illustrate how the motif acquires renewed relevance in digital heritage projects and design practices. Findings suggest that historical motifs are not static ornaments but active agents of cultural memory, enabling intercultural dialogue and aesthetic continuity across time. The study advances the concept of “symbiotic aesthetics,” where material heritage and digital imagination, past creativity and present technology, coexist in productive dialogue. Beyond theoretical implications, this research contributes to broader discussions of heritage preservation by demonstrating how reinterpreted motifs can foster a human-centered cultural future. It highlights the potential of visual traditions to inspire contemporary design while sustaining ethical and intellectual reflection. In doing so, the paper offers an interdisciplinary framework that situates textile patterns within both humanities scholarship and creative practice, underscoring their enduring capacity to bridge historical depth with contemporary innovation.

Authors:
Yimeng Shi, Donghua University, China
Menghe Tian, Donghua University, China
Arkadiusz Marcinkowski, SWPS University, Poland

About the Presenter(s)
Yimeng Shi is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Design at Donghua University, Shanghai, China. She is a graphic designer and curator, and a national member of the Design Committee of the China Packaging Federation.

See this presentation on the full schedule – On Demand Schedule

Bookmark