AI-Generated Artworks of Tanka Heritage Revived

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The Tanka people are a water-dwelling community along China’s southeastern coast, traditionally living on boats and relying on fishing for their livelihood. Once a distinctive cultural feature of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, their way of life is gradually disappearing due to modernization. To preserve and promote this unique heritage, we have employed new media technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, to explore innovative ways of presenting Tanka culture.

 

This exhibition features four generative artworks that vividly depict the Tanka people's water-based lifestyle and its historical evolution. Through extensive research, we built a comprehensive database of images and texts to train AI models capable of producing visual art that reflects Tanka culture. These artworks blend traditional Chinese aesthetics, including ink painting and meticulous brushwork, with contemporary media techniques.

 

By combining traditional styles with modern innovations, the exhibition captures Tanka daily life, customs, and economic practices while connecting their unique history to the broader regional culture. These works not only preserve the Tanka heritage but also highlight the evolving intersection of Chinese visual arts and media technologies.

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