Design process（make model）
PROCESS
The next special landform is the water pools in the desert. It is unlikely that thick water pools will suddenly appear in the desert, but there are still some oases in the desert. I think the design must also follow certain patterns, so I enter from this aspect to find the parts that can inspire me.
First of all, I conducted a survey on the existing relevant landforms in China:
Kuche Grand Canyon and the Ruins of Subashi Buddhist Temple (Aksu, Xinjiang)
1. Geomorphic features:
The Kuche Grand Canyon (Kizilya Grand Canyon) is a typical red sandstone canyon, composed of conglomerate and sandstone from the Cretaceous to the Neogene. The reddish-brown rock walls inside the canyon have been eroded by wind to form a layered and folded texture. At the bottom of the canyon, there is an oasis belt nourished by the Kuche River, where drought-resistant plants such as red willows and poplar trees grow. The ruins of Subashi Buddhist Temple are located on both banks of the Kuche River. The eastern temple is built against the mountains, while the western one is densely populated with remains. The surrounding area is crisscrossed with Gobi and oases, which conforms to the image of "an oasis in a desert canyon".
2. Geological genesis:
The formation of the oasis is attributed to the replenishment of meltwater from the Kuche River. After seeping underground, the river water gushes out in low-lying areas, forming a stable water source. The canyon rock walls, due to long-term wind erosion and gravitational collapse, have formed steep cliff faces and natural caves, providing geological conditions for the excavation of Buddhist caves.
3. Specific appearance:
a. The rock walls of the canyon are mainly reddish-brown, interspersed with earthy yellow and ochre colors, and there are honeycomb-shaped wind-eroded pits on the surface.
b. The oasis vegetation is mainly composed of low shrubs and sparse trees, and reeds and wetlands can be seen on both sides of the river.
c. Typical scene: The "a i Grottoes" in the Kuche Grand Canyon are suspended on the cliff, with the surrounding oases and deserts forming a sharp contrast.
I observed this area and felt that it still highlighted the wind-sand buildings in the desert more, which didn't quite align with my expectations.
Yellow River Stone Forest and Longwan Oasis (Baiyin, Gansu)
• Geomorphic features:
The Yellow River Stone Forest is composed of yellow sandstone and conglomerate. The stone pillars are 80 to 200 meters high and shaped like castles and animal heads. Among the stone forest, there is the Longwan Oasis, a tributary of the Yellow River, where jujube groves and farmlands are planted, forming a complex landscape of "Stone Forest - Oasis - Yellow River".
• Geological genesis:
The uplift of the Earth's crust and the erosion of rainwater have formed stone forest landforms. The groundwater remaining after the Yellow River changed its course has nourished oases, and salinized sandy land can be seen at the edge of the oases.
• Specific appearance:
a. The stone forest is mainly of earthy yellow color, with grooves eroded by flowing water on its surface.
b. The oasis vegetation mainly consists of jujube trees and wolfberries, and there are reed marshes along the Yellow River.
In the Yinmagou Grand Canyon, stone forests and oasis farmlands interweave, and in the distance, the Yellow River meanders.
This area is very much like the other side of the region where the model of the ship is located in my desert modeling. Originally, I had been considering how to connect the road behind and this cliff. This place gave me some inspiration - when the protagonist finds the exit in the sunken ship, he will come to the other side of the cliff, and the oasis begins to emerge.
Salawusu Desert Grand Canyon (Ordos, Inner Mongolia)
• Geomorphic features:
The largest desert canyon in China, formed by the Salawusu River cutting through the Mu Us Desert, has a valley width of 300 to 1,500 meters and a depth of 60 to 80 meters. The river meanders through it, with oases and sand dunes alternately distributed on both banks, creating a unique landscape of "alternating sand and water".
• Geological genesis:
The combined effect of river erosion and groundwater seepage leads to the interactive deposition of loess and sandstone on both sides of the canyon, forming cliff walls with well-developed vertical joints. At the bottom of the canyon, springs gushing out to form small lakes and wetlands.
• Specific appearance:
a. The rock walls of the canyon are alternately yellowish-brown and grayish-white, with textures in a horizontal layered pattern.
b. The oasis is mainly composed of sea buckthorn and saxaul trees, and at the edge of the wetland, Achnatherum splendens and tamarisks can be seen.
c. At the meandering section of the Salawusu River, sand dunes and oases are reflected in the water, and on the cliff walls, there are relics of the "Hetao Man" culture from the Paleolithic Age.
This location provided me with inspiration for the process of how to progress from a scarce desert oasis to gradually being able to see a water pool.
In the story, this area is connected to the Queen Mother of the West Palace at the back. Therefore, during this stretch of the journey, I want to add some dilapidated Buddha statues, niches, etc. to create a terrifying, desolate yet solemn and eerie atmosphere. So I investigated some cave ruins in the desert:
Cultural Relics Research: Buddhist Ruins and Dilapidated Buildings in Desert Oases
The Ruins of Subashi Buddhist Temple (Kuche, Xinjiang)
• Overview of the site:
It was first built in the Wei and Jin Dynasties and reached its peak in the Sui and Tang Dynasties. With a total area of 180,000 square meters, it is the largest Buddhist architectural complex in the Western Regions. The existing relics such as pagodas, monks' quarters and caves, as well as unearthed cultural relics like relic boxes, fragments of murals and clay Buddha statues, were inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2014.
• Dilapidated characteristics:
1. Pagoda: The South Pagoda of the East Temple is a circular adobe pagoda. The dome at the top of the pagoda has collapsed. There is a wooden column hole in the middle of the pagoda body. More than ten niches of Buddha statues remain around the surrounding wall, and the heads of the Buddha statues in the niches are missing.
2. Murals: In the Xisi Cave, there remain murals in the Kucha style. The content is about the Buddha's original life. The colors are mainly ochre red and earthy yellow. The Outlines of the figures are outlined with black lines. Some of the pictures are blurred due to the erosion of wind and sand.
3. Monastic Quarters: The monastic quarters area of the West Temple is densely covered with ruins. The earthen walls are about 5 to 10 meters high, with cracks and collapsed gaps in the walls. Scattered on the ground are broken pottery shards and charcoal remains.
• Cultural value:
The ruins bear witness to the rise and fall of Buddhism in Kucha. The murals integrate elements of Indian and Central Plains art, such as the coexistence of diamond-shaped grid compositions and Central Plains sutra transformation paintings, which are important evidence for the study of cultural exchanges along the Silk Road.
Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves (Baicheng, Xinjiang)
• Overview of the site:
It was excavated in the 3rd century AD, earlier than the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang. There are 236 existing caves and 10,000 square meters of murals. The themes are the stories of the Buddha's original life and causes and conditions. It was listed as a World Heritage Site in 2014.
• Dilapidated characteristics:
1. Murals: Some of the murals in the caves have faded due to smoke and water seepage. The details of the characters' faces and costumes are blurred. Some of the pictures have been cut and stolen, leaving blank areas.
2. Buddha Statues: The Buddha statues in the main chamber of the central pillar cave have mostly been damaged, with only the sumeru pedestal and the backlight fragments remaining. The surface of the clay sculptures has peeled off, revealing the internal grass and clay framework.
3. Cave structure: Some caves are closed due to the collapse of cliff walls. The entrances are buried with sand and stones, and there are cracks and fallen rock blocks on the cave roofs.
• Cultural value:
The "concave-convex painting technique" in the murals of Kucha has influenced Dunhuang art. The diamond-shaped grid composition is a unique form of expression for Buddhist stories, and the cave structure reflects the characteristic of Theravada Buddhism that emphasizes meditation.
Because elements such as Buddha statues need to be added, I have gained a further understanding of the cultural relics that appeared in this area throughout history.
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