Formosa in the Floating World

An AR-Based Interactive Coloring System for Cross-Cultural Reinterpretation of Taiwanese Daily Life through Ukiyo-e Aesthetics

Abstract

This study presents “Formosa in the Floating World,” an Augmented Reality (AR) interactive art system that reinterprets Taiwanese daily life through a newly designed illustrative style rooted in Ukiyo-e aesthetics. Ten original illustrations depict everyday Taiwanese scenes employing Ukiyo-e compositional principles—fluid outlines, flat color planes, and dramatic cropping. Through a “Scan–Deconstruct–Reconstruct” AR workflow modeled on traditional woodblock printing logic, users scan physical artworks to unlock layered digital coloring interfaces, transforming passive viewers into active co-creators of cross-cultural visual narratives.