「國殤之柱」保存計劃 "Pillar of Shame" 3D Preservation

「國殤之柱」是由丹麥雕塑家高志活（Jens Galschiøt）所製作的雕塑，刻劃了多個身軀扭曲、面容痛苦的人像，旨在象徵因1989年6月4日天安門廣場血腥鎮壓而喪生或受傷的人民。其基座正面以鮮紅色簡化字楷書刻有「六四屠殺」，並搭配草書的「老人豈能夠殺光年輕人」，背面亦有相對應的英文語句。由1998年起國殤之柱曾矗立在香港大學黃克競樓平台，背靠香港大學學生會正門。

於2021年10月，香港大學（HKU）計劃移除已屹立於校園愈23年的「國殤之柱」。為此，Lady Liberty Hong Kong 決定立即採取行動，用電子技術保存此雕塑，對抗政治勢力打壓，並延續「國殤之柱」保留歷史真相的使命。

在技術選擇上，我們最初考慮了3D掃描和攝影測量(Photogrammetry) 兩種方法。由於相機的普及度較高，且考慮到設備、人力資源和保密性等多方面的因素，我們最終選擇了攝影測量。此技術是利用專門的軟件分析二維影像，以重建三維物體。這需要大量的照片來確保3D模型的完整性。按照不同的光線和色彩，可能需要加入或去除部分影像以確保其精確度。建立一個3D模型可能需要2至8小時的時間，每次拍攝後，我們都會製作數個試驗模型，整個過程都需要耐心和大量的時間。

由於「國殤之柱」高達7米，加上周圍的地形和建築物限制，我們在多次的實地拍攝中都未能完整捕捉到其全貌。因此，我們最後選擇使用航拍機從高空拍攝，以捕捉到一些平地視角所見不到的部分。在此過程中，我們曾遭到保安人員的阻撓，但我們仍努力完成拍攝。

經過多次嘗試，我們終於成功製作出了完整的3D模型，但其表面細節仍有待完善。為了最大程度地保存雕塑的細節，我們還將「國殤之柱」底部的文字和簽名數碼化，並根據實地照片重塑了柱上的50個人物的面貌、姿態、肌肉紋理和顏色。

「國殤之柱」在2021年12月22日晚遭到香港大學拆毀後，由Lady Liberty Hong Kong所製作的3D檔案便成為傳播歷史真相的重要工具。2022年是六四33週年，台灣「華人民主書院協會」連同多個公民團體於台北中正紀念堂的民主大道舉辦「民主抵抗極權 世界共撐自由」六四紀念活動。主辦單位透過使用本團隊公開的檔案，3D打印複製了一座高約3公尺的「國殤之柱」。

到2023年10月為止，「國殤之柱」的3D檔案在UltiMaker Thingiverse上已獲得超過3300人下載，在世界各地以不同的大小及場合出現。

The “Pillar of Shame,” sculpted by Danish artist Jens Galschiøt, is a powerful representation of the souls lost and injured during the Tiananmen Square crackdown on June 4, 1989. This poignant sculpture, with its vivid red inscription of “June Fourth Massacre” and the thought-provoking phrase, “How can the old kill the young?” stood proudly at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) since 1998, right beside the HKU Student Union’s main entrance.

However, in October 2021, HKU made plans to remove this iconic piece, which had been a part of the campus for over two decades. Responding swiftly, Lady Liberty Hong Kong decided to harness modern technology to digitally preserve the sculpture, ensuring its message of truth and remembrance would continue to resonate.

Initially torn between 3D scanning and photogrammetry, we settled on the latter due to its practicality and the widespread availability of cameras. This method uses software to convert 2D images into a 3D representation. It’s a meticulous process, often requiring thousands of photos and adjustments based on lighting and color conditions. Crafting a single 3D model could take anywhere from 2 to 8 hours, and several test models were often generated after each session.

Capturing the full 7-meter tall pillar, especially given its surroundings, wasn’t straightforward. After some ground-level challenges, drones were employed to offer aerial shots, revealing angles otherwise obscured. This wasn’t without its challenges; we faced some pushback from security staff, but our determination prevailed.

While our final 3D model was comprehensive, refining the intricate details was essential. We digitally recorded inscriptions and signatures at the base and painstakingly recreated the unique attributes of each of the 50 figures on the pillar.

When the “Pillar of Shame” was unfortunately taken down by HKU on December 22, 2021, our digital file became a beacon of historical truth. Marking the 33rd anniversary of the Tiananmen event in 2022, groups in Taiwan used our file to 3D print a replica for a commemorative event at Taipei’s Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.

Fast forward to October 2023, our “Pillar of Shame” 3D model has been downloaded from UltiMaker Thingiverse over 3,300 times, with replicas now standing in various locations worldwide.