Time And Seasons Of Dunhuang

Dapeng Zhang

"Time And Season Of Dunhuang" is a visual communication design project initiated by the School of Art and Design at Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, aiming to reinterpret the symbiotic relationship between Dunhuang art and traditional Chinese solar term culture through modern design language. Inspired by the aesthetics of Mogao Grotto murals and the 24 solar term system, the project employs digital technology to extract and reconstruct five core mineral pigment color palettes from the murals, integrating brushstroke rhythms and classical decorative patterns into its visual translation. Breaking away from traditional solar term poster formats, the design team adopted a strategy of deconstructing and recombining Chinese character symbols. The initial phase produced two experimental poster prototypes for "Bailu" (White Dew) and "Yushui" (Rain Water), using minimalist compositions to visualize the philosophical connection between solar terms and agrarian practices, with plans to expand into a complete series. The project emphasizes technical rigor, including historically accurate color restoration based on academic research and dynamic balance in font structures, seeking to bridge historical authenticity with modern design aesthetics. By developing modular visual systems and methodologies for intangible cultural heritage revitalization, the design offers scalable pathways for transforming traditional cultural resources into contemporary contexts. It strives to engage public awareness and appreciation of solar term culture through the artistic vocabulary of Dunhuang, establishing a new paradigm for heritage-inspired design innovation.