New Zealand Sculpture Project
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33 Feet Corten Steel Sculpture Project--Tribute to the Waitaha People
Project Location: Private property in New Zealand (approximately 5,500 hectares)
Project Timeline: Early 2024 – Mid-2025
Project Background and Cultural Significance:
- A New Zealand client initiated the project to commemorate the Waitaha people, considered the earliest Indigenous group in the region.
- Ancient rock art was discovered on the client’s land, serving as the core inspiration for the sculpture design.
- The client hoped to transform Indigenous historical symbols into a public artwork with contemporary artistic language through a large-scale outdoor corten steel sculpture, thus preserving and respecting local culture.
Design Concept and Collaboration Process
The project adopted a highly collaborative design process:
- The client provided rock art reference materials and made multiple hand-drawn revisions;
- The design team repeatedly optimized the scheme based on the client’s ideas, conducting multiple rounds of communication and confirmation.
The entire design phase lasted approximately 6 months, ensuring a balance between cultural expression, artistic form, and structural safety.
The final design retained the spiritual core of the rock art while meeting the engineering and installation requirements of a large-scale outdoor sculpture.
Engineering and Production Challenges
After the 3D model and structural drawings were confirmed, the project entered the formal production phase.
The core engineering challenges of this project were:
- The client wanted to integrate woods into the weathering steel structure.
- The internal structure required reinforcement and support using steel I-beams.
Our team ensured overall stability through rigorous stress calculations and structural analysis, without affecting the appearance and artistic expression.
Quality Control and Installation Preparation
Before shipment, we conducted a complete trial installation test on the sculpture at the YouFine factory:
- Checking structural stability;
- Confirming smooth installation;
- Verifying surface treatment effect;
Throughout the production and trial installation process, the client entrusted a Chinese representative to our factory for confirmation, ensuring quality and details, reducing risks, and improving efficiency for subsequent on-site installation in New Zealand.
Packaging and Transportation Safety Guarantee
To ensure the sculpture was delivered to the client intact after a long international journey, the project adopted a double-layer professional packaging solution:
- Outer Packaging: A thick, custom-made iron frame was used for overall protection, with wooden boards added to the bottom and firmly fixed to ensure structural stability during transportation.
- Inner Protection: The sculpture’s body was first wrapped in thick sponge and foam material, and then covered with a dust bag on the outside.
This multi-layer protection system effectively avoids the risks of bumps, vibrations, and wear during transportation, ensuring the sculpture arrives at the client’s site safely and stably.
Client Feedback
After the sculpture was installed, the client highly praised the final result, stating:
“This is exactly the work I envisioned.”
The client particularly appreciated the team’s professionalism in cultural understanding, structural realization, and overall execution.
If you also have a similar vision to realize, feel free to contact us. Let’s work together to create artworks that carry unique memories and culture!