The Belarusian State University of Culture and Arts, the computer graphics portal cgtalk.by, under the auspices of the Hi Tech Park and the companies Wacom, Belyi Terem and Nvidia hold the 1st International 3D Modeling Contest of the Belarusian Historical and Cultural Heritage.

Alexander Martinkevich, Deputy Director of the HTP Administration, says: “Modern technologies do not imply only programming. They provide a lot of other vast opportunities for specialists, including 3D-modeling. We are pleased to assist in holding this Contest because it draws young people’s attention to history and its monuments. In fact, a nation that forgot its past has no future. We are glad to note that the Contest integrates the future and the past – IT and our rich history

Igor Morozov, Ph.D. in Culturology, Candidate of Science in Architecture, Professor, laureate of the State Prize of the Republic of Belarus, editor of the architecture department of “Architecture and Construction” magazine, was elected Chairman of the Contest judges. He remarks: “Our Contest is a unique combination of the past, present and future”.

Assisted by the modern computer hardware, contenders offered virtual 3D models of the Belarusian cultural and historical monuments, which will enable their popularization and even eventual reconstruction.

In this respect the Contest as such may be considered as a specific achievement of our culture, not only for contenders, but also for a wide range of our compatriots and all those who are interested in our culture, have a possibility to see our historical heritage with their own eyes.

Therefore, 3D modeling is not an end in itself of the Contest. We need to show how profound and fruitful the origins of our Motherland are, how it is interesting, useful and important for us to go deeper into the original world of our forefathers, to become deeply filled with respect and pride for this world in order to fill the youth’ creativity spirit with similar respect and pride.”

The Contest is divided into two rounds. Contenders were offered to virtually reconstruct the Belarusian gold fund architectural monuments:

• The White Tower in Kamenets
• The Castle Tower in Nesvizh
• The Lyamus of St. Brigitte Monastery in Grodno
• The Borisoglebsk (Kolozha) Church in Grodno
• The Reformatory Temple in Zaslavl’
• The Mir Castle
• The Synkovichi Church
• Mogilev City Hall (destroyed)

Author’s photos of the monuments are presented by the Internet resource “Globus Belarusy”.

The first round of the Contest is aimed at gathering the pictures of these objects. Some objects are physically destroyed, and their virtual reconstruction will be made by contenders without any assistance.

In the second round of the Contest contenders shall present 3D models of the architectural monuments, created on the basis of the 1st round results.

There are 3 categories in the Contest. They vary in the difficulty level:

1. A separate object (construction) with a simple architecture

2. A separate object (construction) with a difficult architecture

3. An architectural ensemble, several buildings.

The 2nd and the 3rd categories allows for teams participation.

The Contest arrangers’ goal is to popularize the Belarusian cultural and historical heritage, to attract the attention of experts in the field of computer graphics and IT to virtual reconstruction of the lost and partially destroyed monuments, computer restoration of buildings’ exterior at various stages of their existence as well as creation of a 3D models data base of the Belarusian architectural monuments.

Additional information:

Deadline for the 1st round works presentation – November 25.

Deadline for the 2nd round works presentation – January 30.

For the Contest terms and the monuments description please see at the Russian version of the site.

30.10.2007