An example of efficiency in painting taken to an extreme can be found in the art factories of China. Sixty percent of the world’s mass produced, cheap oil painting copies come from one small town (1.5 square miles) in China, called Dafen. A worker there can produce a couple of dozen copies a day by hand and it is estimated that 5 million paintings are produced in Dafen every year. There are assembly lines too, as described in The Economist:
Dafen—and other villages like it—are bringing the factory assembly-line into the artist's studio. In a dimly lit hall on the outskirts of Dafen, “painter workers” stand side by side dabbing colours onto canvas. Liu Chang Zhen, a 27-year-old, works eight hours a day to complete more than 200 canvases a month—painting several copies of a picture at a time, methodically filling in the same patch on each before moving to a new part. At other factories, painters work on the same product, but specialize in different parts—in ears or hands or trees. They work from art books, postcards and images from the internet. Sometimes they just paint inside an outline copied electronically from a photograph, enlarged and stamped on the blank canvas.
Dafen—and other villages like it—are bringing the factory assembly-line into the artist's studio. In a dimly lit hall on the outskirts of Dafen, “painter workers” stand side by side dabbing colours onto canvas. Liu Chang Zhen, a 27-year-old, works eight hours a day to complete more than 200 canvases a month—painting several copies of a picture at a time, methodically filling in the same patch on each before moving to a new part. At other factories, painters work on the same product, but specialize in different parts—in ears or hands or trees. They work from art books, postcards and images from the internet. Sometimes they just paint inside an outline copied electronically from a photograph, enlarged and stamped on the blank canvas.
Of course! it is made in China! The Chinese are so efficient. Why do they do this? Simple. People believe they have the right to own an oil painting, even if it is fake, mass-produced, Made in China. The Chinese won't do it if there was no demand for it. Oh wait, if there was no demand, they'll create a demand. The Chinese will sell us our own children, if they can.
ReplyDeleteI love this photo. So telling. By the way, they do this in the Philippines too. Makes you shudder. There are so many talented "atistes" in Asia. If they can't make it drawing comic books, billboards and postcards, they copy paintings and sell them to American and European tourists.
ReplyDeleteAck! Noooooooooooo!!! Arrrggghhhh!!!!
ReplyDeletei know guys! isn't it crazy? ces, u are so right. i always love to hear your thoughts!!LOVE!
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