If you’re old enough to have an interest in sculpture, you’re probably old enough to remember an era when made in Japan was a synonym for cheap goods and shoddy workmanship.
Of course, the flood of mass-produced consumer products that engulfed the west from Japan was no more than the desperate response of a long-isolated, war-ravaged economy. In a generation, Japanese designers, engineers and manufacturers, with millennia-old reputations for exquisite workmanship, reversed the meaning of the label from censure to praise.
Today, made in Japan stands for world class, and often world-leading design and manufacturing.
A similar tale applies to China.
China the world new manufacturing engine room
As globalisation accelerates, international economics has made China the world’s new engine room of low-cost consumer goods manufacturing. This is especially so for economic sectors where the cost of labour in western countries makes large-scale manufacturing uncompetitive. Think of the demise of textiles, clothing, and footwear, and the automotive industry in the United States and Australia.
But for a country with a sculpture tradition traceable beyond 10,000 BC, reports of poor quality manufacturing in China, while genuine in some cases, tell only one part of a many-sided story.
China’s history of sculpture is arguably the oldest on the planet. Religious influences and dynastic reverence informed most antiquarian sculptural work almost continuously for thousands of years before classical Greek, Roman, and Christian art.
Consistent artisanal base
And unlike Western art and sculpture, which have seen progressive waves of advancement and decline in post Christian eras, Chinese sculpture has consistently retained its artisanal base throughout history.
As a developer, designer, architect, project manager, or sculptor yourself, you would do well to remember three things. Not all of China’s contemporary industrial output should be judged by the standards of everyday consumer goods manufacturing. Second, although China’s foundries are far away and largely unknown to Australia, the better operations offer quality materials and processes, and reliable guarantee and return policies.
On-the-ground knowledge is vital
Third, without vital on-the-ground knowledge of specialist Chinese foundries, the hype that accompanies many of these businesses, especially with internet marketing, can be highly misleading.
It’s true that many purport to offer full-foundry services. In fact they are little more than agents hoping to cobble together teams of low-paid artisans and finishers to win the work on cost alone.
More than 60 personal visits to China
On the other hand, after more than 60 personal sculpture-related excursions to China over the last 10 years, I have been able to identify and test the best of the best.
By forming proven and trusted long-term relationships with quality manufacturers, I’ve succeeded in forging a successful career as a sculptor in my own right. As well, I’ve been able to delight clients by forming partnerships with Chinese manufacturers that allow me to:
• Satisfy tight budget constraints
• Deliver larger than expected works for the same price
• Produce works to meet and often exceed expectations of quality
• Demonstrate substantial reductions in risk.
Understanding a culture as ancient and complex as China’s is not an overnight affair. It’s why I’ve devoted more than a decade and thousands of hours to forging relationships with foundries whose people, processes, and care I know and trust.
If you’re thinking of investing in sculpture and worry that made in China means doubtful quality, call Todd Stuart on +61 4 5151 8865, or visit mainartery.art let me surprise you with just how great the work can be.
