In 2025, when VR allows you to touch the soil of Mars, AI helps you translate interstellar signals, and the memories of human civilization can be "encapsulated" into a virtual star atlas—we may have to rethink the new ways humans converse with the universe. In the virtual universe created by three young artists, you'll experience the Voyager's Golden Record being "disassembled," the sounds of the Earth resonating with your breath, and everyone becoming an interstellar storyteller. The three young artists are Zhou Tianxing, Xu Chengkai, and Yao Xinyue, award-winning artists of the MANA Creator Support Program, as well as explorers of "Immersive Narratives of Cosmic Culture."
The VR work titled "So Long - The Humankind's Heritage in the Universe" by Zhou Tianxing, Xu Chengkai, and Yao Xinyue
What Are Immersive Narratives of Cosmic Culture?
The "Immersive Narratives of Cosmic Culture" represents a new narrative direction that deeply integrates technology, astronomy, and the humanities. It uses technologies such as virtual reality (VR), AI-driven narrative, multisensory interaction, and augmented reality (AR) as its media, taking the history, civilizational heritage and philosophical thinking of human space exploration as the starting point to create a pathway for cultural expression that is cross-media, participatory, educational, and imaginative.
It is no longer limited to astronomical knowledge in books or science fiction stories on the screen, but weaves individual perception, cultural memories, and mysteries of the universe into a tangible narrative web. It is not only recreating the history of space exploration, but also creating a "cultural interface" for the interstellar era, reshaping the perceptual relationship between individuals and the universe, and between memories and civilizations.
The VR work titled "So Long - The Humankind's Heritage in the Universe" by Zhou Tianxing, Xu Chengkai, and Yao Xinyue
In the future, the "Immersive Narratives of Cosmic Culture" will have core features such as a narrative ecosystem co-created by users, a cross-temporal dialogue on civilizations, and a realm of integrated virtual and physical realities. This kind of narrative can serve as the spiritual anchor and cultural imagination for human space exploration, and provide a new framework for understanding one's own position in the universe. This narrative can also be transformed into a wealth of consumer products, covering VR interactive experiences, immersive exhibitions, astronomical education products, sci-fi cultural tourism IP, and digital collections, demonstrating strong cultural influence and potential for commercial transformation.
Evolution of Immersive Narratives of Cosmic Culture
Prototype stage (before the middle of the 20th century)
Key words: naked-eye observation, mythological imagination, and early space narratives
Background: Astronomical observations relied on the naked eyes and simple instruments, with humanity's understanding of the universe based on mythology and preliminary science. Narratives were dominated by oral legends and star atlas murals.
Representative works and phenomena:
Dunhuang Star Atlas (Tang Dynasty): The star atlas corresponds to the operation of the stars to the order of the world, and uses the language of painting to construct cosmic narratives.
Halley's Comet Depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry (11th Century): The depiction of Halley's Comet in the Bayeux Tapestry is a significant part of historical narratives, particularly in the scene showing King Harold II who witnessed the appearance of the comet prior to the Battle of Hastings in 1066. This tapestry used images to record this astronomical event and conveyed people's panic and uncertainties caused by it at that time.
Ancient Mythological Systems: Myths like China's "Chang'e Flying to the Moon" and ancient Greece's "Zeus Commands the Sky" demonstrate how anthropomorphic narratives explain cosmic phenomena.
Characteristics: With mythology as its skeleton and science as embellishments, humanity's first "narrative packaging" of the universe was achieved through static forms like paintings and legends.
A part of the Dunhuang Star Atlas
A part of the Bayeux Tapestry
The Era of Sci-fi Enlightenment and Technology Trigger (Mid-20th Century - 1990s)
Key words: cinematic spectacles, space narratives, and early interactive attempts
Background: Breakthroughs in aerospace technologies (such as artificial satellites and moon landings) and advancements in the film industry shifted humanity's vision of the universe from myths to a fusion of science and science fiction.
Representative works and phenomena:
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968): Through long takes and abstract symbols, the film constructs an immersive cinematic experience of a "dialogue between human and cosmic consciousness."
IMAX Dome Theater (1970): A giant screen and surround sound effects allow the audience to be "suspended" in the cosmic scene.
Nintendo Virtual Boy (1995): Though technologically premature, it pioneered the use of stereoscopic 3D graphics to realize the concept of "roaming in the universe."
Characteristics: The paradigm has shifted from "passive viewing" to "dynamic immersion," where space achievements provide scientific authenticity to narratives, while films and early electronic devices emerge as new mediums for cosmic narratives.
A poster of the movie "2001: A Space Odyssey"
Nintendo Virtual Boy
The Era of Immersive Exploration of Digital Technologies (2000-2010)
Key words: virtual space, deepened interaction, and cross-media integration
Background: The popularity of the Internet, the iteration of VR technology (the Oculus Rift prototype was released in 2012), and digital technologies such as high-definition 3D images have made it possible for humanity to "enter the universe."
Representative works and phenomena:
Second Life-Virtual Worlds (2003): Users can customize "interstellar civilizations" and construct their own cosmic narratives within this virtual space.
Disney's "Star Tours: The Adventures Continue" (2011): The 3D motion simulator attraction brings the fantastic universe in the movie "Star Wars" to visitors. The attraction debuted in 2011 as an upgraded and reimagined version of the classic "Star Tours." The starship "Starspeeder 1000" enables visitors to experience an immersive journey that combines high-definition 3D images with precise physical motions. The unique charm of the attraction lies in its randomly generated storylines – each ride could feature different Star Wars characters, visit unexpected planets, and get involved in different battle scenarios. This means that they'll never know where the next journey might take them, which dramatically boosts replay value and maintains an enduring sense of novelty.
Characteristics: Interactivity takes center stage, evolving users from "passive receivers" to "active explorers," while immersive technologies like VR/AR gradually blur the boundaries between reality and the universe.
Oculus Rift
The Era of AI and Full Sensory Immersion (since 2020)
Keywords: multi-sensory fusion, AI co-creation, user-generated content
Background: With the explosion of AIGC (AI-Generated Content) technology and the popularization of consumer-grade VR devices (such as Meta Quest and Pico), the cosmic narrative has entered the era of "hyper-realistic experience."
Representative works and phenomena:
So Long - The Humankind's Heritage in the Universe (2024): Zhou Tianxing, Xu Chengkai, and Yao Xinyue explored the use of AI to analyze user behavior, enabling everyone to create personalized versions based on the Voyager Golden Record and generate unique interstellar messages.
West Bund Museum 8K Cosmic Theater's Uniview-1.0: Journey of Light (2025): The performance combines 8K images with particle effects. Viewers' gestures can trigger the flow of stardust, realizing a synaesthetic and immersive experience.
Online exhibitions initiated by Google Arts & Culture and other institutions:
Description: The Google Arts & Culture platform regularly collaborates with observatories and museums worldwide to launch online exhibitions that incorporate 360-degree views, high-resolution images, interactive maps, and even AI-powered audio guides. These exhibitions integrate complex cosmic knowledge with breathtaking images to deliver immersive multimedia storytelling experiences. Artificial intelligence may be employed for content recommendation systems, image enhancement, or intelligent Q&A interfaces.
Characteristics: AI emerges as a "collaborator" for narratives, interconnecting multi-sensory engagement (including visual, auditory, tactile, and even olfactory), and transforming cosmic narratives from "technological experience" into "cultural co-creation."
Future Outlook (2030s and Beyond)
Keywords: interstellar civilization dialogue, symbiosis of physical and virtual worlds
A picture of the VR work titled "So Long - The Humankind's Heritage in the Universe" by Zhou Tianxing, Xu Chengkai, and Yao Xinyue
Google Arts & Culture Platform
Exploration of "Immersive Narratives of Cosmic Culture" by Zhou Tianxing, Xu Chengkai, and Yao Xinming
The "Immersive Narratives of Cosmic Culture" is not a mere replication of the universe, but transforms it into a "participatory cultural experience."
The efforts made by Zhou Tianxing, Xu Chengkai, and Yao Xinming go beyond creating a "VR version of astronomical knowledge", but develop a narrative approach that truly fosters emotional connections between individuals and the universe. The three artists infuse warmth into cold interstellar data and unlock new possible interpretations for the 46-year-old Golden Record message.
The work's format possesses not only powerful visual impact and conceptual depth, but also demonstrates strong potential for expansion into XR exhibitions, astronomy education, sci-fi IP development, and other related fields.
A picture of the VR work titled "So Long - The Humankind's Heritage in the Universe" by Zhou Tianxing, Xu Chengkai, and Yao Xinyue
"So Long - The Humankind's Heritage in the Universe," a representative practice in the VR field, was collaboratively created by artists Zhou Tianxing, Xu Chengkai, and Yao Xinyue.
Inspired by the Voyager spacecraft launched in 1977 and the Golden Record it carried—a time capsule of human civilization, the project received support from Timothy Ferris, the producer of Voyager Golden Record. Through futuristic visual language and immersive technologies, the production guides audiences in decoding interstellar sounds and images in virtual space, to reconstruct a cultural memory that transcends time and space.
The work embodies an audience-empowered, participatory narrative approach, transforming viewers from passive observers into active co-creators of cosmic stories. Through this immersive journey across time, memories, and civilizational trajectories, the work transforms the universe from a distant scientific imagination into an accessible cultural site where individuals can immerse themselves, perceive, and actively participate in writing its ongoing narrative.
What Is the Significance of Immersive Narratives of Cosmic Culture in the Future?
In the future world, the significance of cosmic narratives will not be diluted by technology; rather, it will become more important, profound, and "connected." The following is an in-depth exploration of "the significance of cosmic narratives in the future" from cognitive, civilizational, educational, and industrial perspectives.
The cosmic narratives are "new sensory modalities" for humanity to understand the universe.
They are not merely about knowledge transmission, but "multidimensional interfaces" that humanity has created for itself to perceive the universe. With the rapid development of VR, AI, and brain-machine interface, we are getting closer and closer to the universe. We can "touch" the density of neutron stars, "listen" to the gravitational waves of black holes, and "participate" in the evolution of galaxies. Humanity's confusion about the universe also demands narrative answers, such as "Are we alone in the universe"? (the Fermi paradox), "What is the ultimate fate of civilization"? (the principle of increasing entropy), and "What is the cosmic significance of individual existence"? Immersive narratives of cosmic culture are an ability that humanity preserves for itself to "empathize with the universe" in the age of "technological explosion."
The cosmic narratives are "common languages" of dialogue among civilizations.
The future is an era when humanity ventures into deep space and may encounter extraterrestrial civilizations. The "communication barriers" among different planets, species, and civilizations are often difficult to overcome through mathematical formulas or physical laws. However, the cosmic narratives offer an "emotional" and "symbolic" bridge for communication. For example, the major themes like "star worship," "curiosity about the unknown," and "deep affection for homeland" form the emotional foundation that all intelligent civilizations may share. In the future, since such "cosmic-scale challenges" as space colonization, interstellar exploration, and the interpretation of extraterrestrial signals have become increasingly urgent, the immersive narratives will serve as humanity's "letter of introduction" to the universe.
It is an "emotional bond" connecting science and humanities.
While astronomical data answers the question "What is the universe like," cosmic narrative solves the problem of "How does the universe relate to me"? In the future when AI can rapidly calculate the moving trajectories of galaxies, humanity will need narrative more than ever to transform cold scientific data into sensible emotional experiences: turning the galaxy distribution map of the "Hubble Deep Field" into an immersive exhibition where every light spot represents a civilization; transforming the "gravitational lensing effect" into an interactive story about "how the universe gives humanity a magnifying glass". This is not about simplification of science, but about enabling every person to discover their own personal connection to the universe.
It is a "testing ground" for cultural industry innovation.
Future cultural products will increasingly rely on immersive experiences and narrative depth, while immersive storytelling of the cosmic culture offers a natural ground for innovation:
In cultural tourism, games, films and TV programs, cosmic narratives become an ideal carrier for building "grand views of the world", "interactions of multiple endings", and "transmedia experiences";
In education and science popularization, its transforms abstract astronomical concepts into "operable cosmic experiments" and "participatory interstellar missions"; and,
In digital economy, cosmic narrative-based virtual assets (e.g., "digital planets" and "interstellar IPs") may forge new value systems.
In the future, cultural creators will be not only content producers, but also "architects of cosmic narratives."
The VR work titled "So Long - The Humankind's Heritage in the Universe" by Zhou Tianxing, Xu Chengkai, and Yao Xinyue