The Ethics of Authenticity and Authorship in 3D Scan Archiving for Heritage Preservation in Hong Kong

Hong Kong, where rapid urbanisation and development have threatened the city's historic landmarks and cultural identity. In response to these challenges, 3D scanning has emerged as a powerful tool for archiving and preserving the city's heritage. However, the issues of authenticity and authorship have been raised in relation to 3D scan archives.

This paper explores the use of 3D scan archives in the context of socially-engaged art practice as a means of preserving Hong Kong's city heritage. It examines the challenges of creating accurate and comprehensive 3D scan archives and the importance of crediting the creators of these archives. The paper also explores the potential of socially-engaged art practice to engage communities and raise awareness about the importance of heritage preservation by inviting them to be part of the 3D scan archivists to document the local
heritage in questioning the ownerships and authorships of the data and collections. To illustrate these points, the paper presents a case study of my recent Hong Kong Art Development Council-funded project that uses 3D scanning and socially-engaged art practice to preserve a series of old shops in Hong Kong. The case study demonstrates the process of creating the archive, questions of archive accessibility and sustainability, and the project's impact on the community.

Overall, this paper highlights the potential of 3D scanning and socially-engaged art practice to support heritage preservation in Hong Kong while also emphasising the importance of authenticity and authorship in creating and using 3D scan archives.