Modern Mythos — Digital Twins

Abstract

This article explores the concept of “Modern Mythos” through the creation of Digital Twins in the form of looped motion works developed during a collaborative workshop with students and collaborators at ISI Denpasar. This project engages with the lineage of traditional Balinese masks, including Topèng and Barong-Rangda, as a means of transforming cultural heritage to adapt to today’s digital imagery culture. This approach emphasizes the importance of carefully transferring the works, applying the CARE principles, TK Labels, and AI watermarks to ensure that custodianship and cultural context are preserved. Furthermore, this practice integrates the process of returning the works to local creators and master woodcarvers, such as Ida Bagus Anom Suryawa, so that decisions regarding form, proportions, motifs, and taboos remain determined through the assessment of handcrafted artistry and community review. By positioning local communities as the primary guides—rather than relying on artificial intelligence (AI)—Digital Twins are presented as a circular proposal to reinterpret myths in contemporary forms and ensure the continued vitality of cultural heritage.