The Spring of Chinese Sculptures is Drawing Near
2008-07-30

The Spring of Chinese Sculptures is Drawing Near 

To most people, sculptures in China are strange as well as familiar. The reason why so many Chinese feel uncomfortable when they appreciate those woks of art is that expressions of the sculptures sometimes look so abstract. But if they are the images that we've learned much about, such as Kong Yiji in front of Shaoxing Xianheng Hotel, or the sculptures of Yangsan Heroes, then you'll find that they can even be so affable.

Now the phenomenon in the sculpture market of china is never strange again. In a certain extent, as a result of people's lower aesthetic ability to artworks and blind pursuit of foreign works of art, the original copies in our home can't match the foreign artists' copies of their sculptures which are a few times expensive than ours. This may be some frustration. But if you are wise enough there's a good chance for you. The lower the prices are, the better opportunities you will have for collecting sculptures.

Now let me bring you some good news. Although the temperature in the domestic market does not fire, as the Chinese art market is gradually mature, in overseas auction market Chinese sculptures have obtained great appreciation. Some fine artworks have broken the records of the auction again and again. The bid price of several million dollars has become commonplace. However, the prosperous market of art is almost monopolized by Chinese paintings and calligraphy, Western oil paintings and Chinese ceramics. As an important form of art - contemporary Chinese sculpture, only plays a secondary role in the market.

Currently, China's sculpture market is not perfect. The Chinese sculptures are in a narrow market, which lags much behind the development of those overseas. The reason for this may be very complicated, but it is undeniable that China's sculpture market has not yet formed a sound operational mechanism. Almost no relevant organizations have standardized the operation of sculpture and given a good guidance. Common sculptors can't afford to invite general manages to do work such as arrangement, packaging and ordering. So it is difficult for a sculptor to promote the works in a rational and effective way. Even though some individual sculptors have got breakthroughs, the market is also under a disordered situation. For recovering the whole sculpture market, this is just like a drop in the bucket. It does not work at all.

Some experts believe that sculpture, in the field of high-end art, compared with painting and calligraphy, jade, ceramics and other works of art, is just at the stage of development. And its collection market has just started. Once a well-known major auction shoot a high price, then sculpture art market value models will be established at once, leading to an upsurge collection of sculpture. With the passage of time and the maturity of the market, the prices of Chinese sculpture and works of art will be as high as paintings.

Reportedly, the current small pieces of sculptures in the U.S. market have been able to keep pace with the paintings. Market of Small pieces of sculptures in the U.S. has reached a relatively mature stage. By contrast, China's contemporary sculpture collection market has just started and is immature, but the Chinese have a tradition of collection. So from another perspective we can know exactly that the market will show a huge potential of development in the future.

A few years ago the most popular contemporary art was painting; I believe that in the near future the Chinese market will be hot again because of the great Chinese sculptures.