In 1974, some farmers in Xi’an, China, stumbled upon a funerary army buried with the first Qin emperor comprised of more than 8,000 terracotta soldiers. Their fierce, noble faces belied their intent to protect the emperor even in death, while their military dress and kit, all recreated in detail, gave them the means to do so.
Now an artist in San Francisco is herself recreating some of these World Heritage statues, but there’s something just a bit off about the faces…
Calling the series Xi’an-American Warriors, artist Lizabeth Eva Rossof says it “playfully explores the concerns of American media’s global influence and China’s industry of counterfeiting the copyrighted properties held by said media.”
To make sure the 18-inch (about 45 cm) statues had an authentic look, Rossof used the same processes that created the originals, outsourcing the actual production to a terracotta producer in Xi’an so the same clay would be used.
For a limited time, the statues are available for purchase on Rossof’s website.
▼Batman dressed in imperial garb will set you back US$1,600 
▼The slightly less powerful armored warrior Batman costs the same
▼Emperor Mickey has sold out, despite the US$2,200 price tag
▼You can still get your hands on General Bart though (US$1,600)
▼Shrek has slimmed down a bit as a kneeling archer (US$1,800)
▼ Complete the set for US$8,700!
Those prices might seem a bit steep, but if you need a Christmas present for someone who loves ancient Chinese history, American cultural imperialism, and socially-conscious modern art, how can you afford not to buy these gems?
Images: LER Studio
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