Buddha-like Trump statues by Chinese artist gain traction

#Buddhalike #Trump #statues #Chinese #artist #gain #traction

Donald Trump is not usually known for his calm or reserve, but in a craftsman’s workshop in rural China, the US president-elect sits in divine contemplation.

Cross-legged with his eyes half-closed in a Buddha-like pose, America’s partition leader-in-waiting is the work of porcelain designer and sculptor Hong Jinshi.

The Zen-like figures — which Hong sells for between 999 and 20,000 yuan (about $140 to $2,700), depending on their size — first went viral on e-commerce platform Taobao in 2021, attracting national headlines. What did

And ahead of the real estate magnate’s inauguration for a second term, they have once again become hot property.

“There was a lot of interest in the days after he won the election,” said Hong, who originally designed the statues as a joke.

“Politicians are usually very boring, whereas (Trump) is this huge online personality who often says fantastic things,” he told AFP.

Hong, 47, estimates he has moved hundreds of ceramic creations over the past few years.

He said he makes customers smile because Trump’s “personality and image are two opposite extremes.”

Each figure comes in packaging emblazoned with a Chinese phrase that translates to “Make Your Company Great Again,” a play on Trump’s well-worn slogan for restoring American supremacy.

Copycat versions have also appeared on shopping platforms in the US – including Amazon and Chinese-owned Temu – for up to $45.

Little Rocket Man

“It’s a good laugh to make fun of authority figures and famous people,” said Hong, sitting barefoot on the floor of his minimalist studio.

Hong’s loose white clothing, shaved head, and soft-spoken nature bear little resemblance to the whimsical subjects of his sculptures.

He recently began designing a similarly tongue-in-cheek sculpture of another American luminary: Trump supporter Elon Musk, who seems poised to play a key role in his administration.

The statue casts the controversial billionaire in the style of Marvel superhero Iron Man, dressed in a rocking suit of metallic armor.

In Hong’s version, though, a giant rocket emerges from Musk’s waist to symbolize the SpaceX CEO’s galactic ambitions.

Despite toeing the line between condescension and guilt, Hong said he has a lot of admiration for Musk, whose electric vehicle company Tesla operates a huge factory in Shanghai and enjoys strong sales in China.

“Musk’s rockets are fantastic – he’s brought the price of rockets down a lot,” he told AFP.

“He has done as an individual entrepreneur what a whole country cannot do.”

Zen and the art of agreement

Hong declined to comment on Trump’s policies toward China, a sensitive topic in the Asian country.

But many expect relations with the US to worsen after Trump’s inauguration on January 20.

During the campaign, Trump took a tough line on Beijing, promising more tariffs on Chinese imports.

He previously imposed draconian tariffs during a bitter trade war in his first term — largely preserved by his successor, Joe Biden.

Trump has also angered Chinese leaders with his blunt statements, particularly blaming Beijing for the decline of US manufacturing and calling the pathogen that causes Covid-19 the “Chinese virus”.

Despite this, the 78-year-old still has many admirers in China.

“I still think he’s as funny (as before),” Hong said. “When he’s president, there’s exciting news every day.”

Despite the renewed interest, Hong no longer sells Trump statues on Chinese sites after removing his listings — perhaps, he said, because they were considered an affront to Buddhists.

Still, orders continue to come from tourists visiting Hong’s workshop, as well as from friends and acquaintances.

“Now that he’s been reelected, the statue has exploded in popularity again,” Hong said.

Perhaps, he added, it was because “Trump is a person with a lot of stories”.