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Wētā Workshop’s artistic connection with China endures the decades
Wētā Workshop brings imaginary worlds to life, delivering concept design, physical effects, collectables, immersive visitor experiences and interactive games to the world’s entertainment and creative industries. Co-founded by Richard Taylor and Tania Rodger in 1987, their ground-breaking work has earned multiple international awards and over the past 20 years, their relationship with China has been a key part of their business.
A collectible connection
Following their work on The Lord of the Rings, Wētā Workshop began crafting high-end collectables of characters and environments from the films.
Richard’s connection with China started at this point, (23 years ago), when he travelled up to China to meet the person that would become Weta’s manufacturing partner. Fred Tang was a seasoned manufacturer of high end collectables, with his company Tenzan dominating the worlds collectable industry.
The pair became fast friends due to their shared love of pop culture collectables and all things creative – and Fred opened up his manufacturing facilities in China for Workshop’s collectibles business.
Over the following years, Fred has manufactured many millions of collectables, life sized promotional sculptures, public art sculpture and fine art bronzes, Film props and set pieces, Light weight chain maille, and many more unique and extraordinary things for the workshop.
In 2008, they embarked on their most significant project together – constructing 10 Lancaster bombers. The masters were built in New Zealand at the workshop and Tenzan manufactured the final product in China.
Over the past 20+ years Fred and Richard have travelled extensively together within China and Fred has played a huge part in introducing Richard to the culture of China and all that this incredible country has to offer.
An early artistic influence
When Richard was a young kid he bought a book by an unfamiliar sculptor from an unknown land.
“I copied sculptures from that book. I later used the images in the book to help self-train when Tania and I started our little business in the late 80’s. We printed out pictures from the book and they still hang on the walls of the workshop today. Over the years I’ve also shared the inspiration from this book with our sculpting team”
Fast forward to 2009 and Richard was in Chengdu, exhibiting the Dr Grordbort’s art exhibition (a retro sci-fi fantasy world created by Greg Broadmore), to help fundraise for a relief fund due to the devastation caused by the Sichuan earthquake. On route to a meeting through the sculpture precinct of this city, a specific art studio caught Richard’s eye.
“Through my translator, I spoke with the artist and owner of this studio. After I had shown my work to him he kindly showed me a portfolio of his sculptures. In the portfolio were images from the book that had influenced me so much. This was a man called Professor Zhao Shutong……. and I simply couldn’t believe it. To meet a person who had influenced me so significantly, 42 years after first discovering his art. It was one of the most impactful moments of my life,”
Wonderfully – a strong friendship quickly developed, and Richard stayed in contact with the Professor when he returned home.
“Six months after this meeting, I invited Sutong to New Zealand. Amongst other things, he helped our team and I to sculpt the Rugby World Cup sculpture that now resides in central Wellington. He also did a lecture series at Te Papa and other institutions about his amazing life. This incredible artist became a wonderfully influential person in my life. Sadly, he has since passed away, but the time I was so fortunate to spend with him has left an incredible imprint on my life.”
Building immersive experiences
In the past 10 years Wētā Workshop’s location-based experiences team has worked on significant projects in China including the Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine Museum in the city of Zhuhai for their clients Shambala and the Macau government. The team led the development of the museum including the design of this unique building along with the development and design of the exhibits throughout the museum and several key sculptural pieces.
Central to the creative success of this project was a young Chinese artist who Richard met in Guangzhou through his relationship with the Beijing Film academy. Sam Gao joined Weta Workshop as a collectable’s sculptor 9 years ago, but quickly rose to become the companies China / New Zealand creative director and business liaison. Sam has facilitated numerous projects within China from his place at the Workshop in Wellington.
In 2022, Haikou’s Duty-Free Complex opened in Hainan. Working with their clients CDG, and manufacturing partner Dafeng. Wētā Workshop helped transform the world’s largest duty-free shopping complex into a story-driven, multisensory, retail experience inspired by the natural beauty and ecology of Hainan.
Richard says the workshop’s relationship with China is built on an enduring artistic connection and deep respect for the culture and people of this extraordinary country.
“We have lectured in China, we hire artists from China, we have incredibly talented artists on the Workshop floor here in New Zealand that have joined us from China. We have got to work on some of our most unique projects in China, and we have hosted over 100 Chinese delegations that have visited the workshop over the past 20+ years from China. It has certainly been a very special relationship and inspirational place for us to work and visit”.
Learn more about Weta Workshop here.