Visualizing Aging Processes of Oil Paintings on Canvas: An Interactive VR Approach

Environmental factors such as relative humidity (RH), temperature, and UV radiation significantly impact the condition and longevity of oil paintings on canvas. This dissertation aims to develop a virtual reality (VR)-based framework for simulating the aging and degradation processes of such paintings. The framework will integrate scientifically grounded, interactive visualizations of material changes to offer a dynamic, real-time representation of cumulative environmental effects on paintings. By combining procedural texturing, physically based rendering (PBR), and GPU-accelerated algorithms, the system seeks to balance computational efficiency with visual realism. The proposed dissertation identifies and addresses three critical research gaps: (1) the incorporation of empirical data into dynamic, real-time simulations, (2) holistic visualization of simultaneous aging effects in VR, and (3) the development of VR-based tools for user studies and decision-making in cultural heritage. Through these contributions, the system will serve as a valuable tool for conservators, curators, and stakeholders, enabling preventive conservation strategies and enhancing public engagement by illustrating the complexities of art preservation. Furthermore, user studies involving eye-tracking and questionnaires will investigate how visual degradation influences aesthetic perception and emotional response to artworks. While the immediate focus of the proposed dissertation is on visualizing the deterioration of cultural heritage, the methodologies and findings will have considerable potential for applications across various other areas such as education, healthcare and medicine, entertainment, or economics.