Cloud Art
About
Artist
Guan Wei
Curator
Amanda Sharrad
Location
Sydney, Australia
Client
Time & Place
Development
Bourke & Bowden
Year of Completion
2024
Materials & Processes
Manufactured
Huangzhou, China
Materials
Bronze, Stainless Steel, Concrete
Processes
Lost Wax Casting, Welding, Chemical Patina, Sanding, Moulding, 3D Scanning, 3D Printing
Where you can find cloud art
Artist statement
Bourke & Bowden development site is very close to Yiu Ming Chinese Temple. I have learned that the Yiu Ming society consists of two distinct architectural components: a facing row of ten two-story, nineteenth-century brick workers’ cottages and a temple that opens onto a walled garden. The site has a recorded history of continuous Chinese occupation since at least the 1870s. The Society then was known as the Hung Faok Tong who purchased the land and built the present temple in 1908. It has 114 years of history.
The precinct provides a social and cultural centre for the Sydney community of Cantonese-speaking Chinese Australians who originally came from Gaoyao and Gaoming counties in the southern province of Guangdong of China. The elected office bearers of the Yiu Ming Society take care of the Temple and housing and observe the festivals in the Chinese calendar. The Society also provides low-rent accommodation for its elderly members and new arrivals in the terrace house.
The Yiu Ming society has played a role of looking after the new immigrants and giving them a home in this new country. At the same time, the Temple has also attracted local Australians and become a window to understand different cultures. After studying the history of this location, I thought as the Temple has helped so many Chinese migrants over 100 years, it’s only logical to introduce the relevant philosophy to more people. So, I decided to create four pieces of sculptures of chemical blanching matte black bronze. This site of the four pieces of sculptures is named “Salvation – play with a cloud No.1,2,3,4 “ These four bronze sculptures will fit in well with the Italian style of garden architecture. The humorous, cheerful, and simple features of the sculptures will bring a feeling of joy and relaxation to people who come here for work or for shopping.
I choose Salvation and Lucky Cloud from Chinese cultural symbolic images to create this “Salvation –play with a cloud No.1,2,3,4 “ which embodies the harmonious lifestyle, but is also very contemporary, so as to showcase the multicultural feature of the area. “ Salvation – play with a cloud No.1,2,3,4 “ presents a happy Buddhist lifestyle. Salvation – play with a cloud No.4 is featuring an image of Buddha’s head along with an image of a man with a piece of cloud between them. The man standing on the cloud will enter an ideal world under the protection of the Buddha and move towards a blissful life. I will make this “Salvation – play with a cloud No 4 “ sculpture the main piece of this Project. It will be reproduced through an enlarged 3D model to make it a large-scale sculpture 224 cm tall, set on a base of 20 cm high, so the total height of the sculpture will be 244 cm. It will be positioned at the entrance of the building to make it a landmark sculpture of the location.
The “Salvation – play with a cloud No.1,2,3 “ are highly symbolic and minimalistic. The “Salvation – play with a cloud No.1” sculpture features a man holding a piece of cloud. The “Salvation – play with a cloud No.2” is a man’s head with a piece of cloud over its top. The “Salvation – play with a cloud No.3” is a man’s foot peddling a piece of cloud. The sizes of the “Salvation – play with a cloud No.1,2,3” are life-size, hence they can be ideally placed on three pieces of lawn inside the garden as a group of statues. These three sculptures form an interesting change from standing tositting to lying down positions. They represent an intimate relationship of mankind with nature. The three sculptures embody a humorous as well as solemn attitude, showcasing a calm, free-spirited and contented condition of humankind and its harmony with nature. I hope this site of four sculptures maintains traditional concepts with modern highly symbolic styles to create an enjoyable environment for everyone.
Bringing cloud art to life
The process of creating these bronze sculptures began with 3D scanning existing scale maquettes, with three located in China and one in Sydney. After scanning, Blueprint Shanghai collaborated closely with Guan Wei, communicating in his native language to refine the 3D files. The models were adjusted to enhance finer details, particularly on the hands, feet, and belly buttons. Following several rounds of revisions, Guan Wei approved the final designs.
The next phase involved 3D printing smaller versions of each sculpture in photopolymer resin, a process managed by Blueprint Shanghai in China. These prototypes were sent to Australia for Guan Wei’s final review and approval.
The following stage was to 3D print full-scale sculptures in Polylactide (PLA), ensuring they are precise replicas of the approved maquettes. These prints were used to create silica gel moulds, which were then utilised to cast the silicone bronze sculptures.
After the bronze was cast, the finishing process began, transforming each piece from its raw cast state to a polished, smooth final finish. This involved meticulous sanding and polishing to achieve the desired visual texture before the patina is applied.
The patina process involved forming a thin, controlled layer on the surface of the bronze through chemical treatment, which achieved the desired color. To preserve this finish, a wax coating was applied creating a waterproof protective layer that prevents air and moisture from affecting the sculpture. This process halts natural oxidation, maintaining the sculpture’s intended appearance.
Sanding, Polishing and Patina
Installation
Each sculpture was designed with a built-in baseplate for strength, stability, and ease of transport. These baseplates also eliminated the need for any lifting points on the sculptures themselves. Additionally, they include fixing posts that allow the sculptures to be secured in their final locations. Once Guan Wei had approved the installation sites, the sculptures were set in place using chemset for permanent stability. Using a crane truck the sculptures were delivered to site and manoeuvred carefully into their respective final positions.
Completed Works
