High-end Chinoiserie Statue Pioneer - Infinity Studio

In 2015, three post-80s, who love statues and model toys, founded Infinity Studio (开天工作室) together in Shanghai. Today, Infinity Studio has not only become the head brand of sculpture in China, but also led the niche circle to develop into a hot modeling industry, truly bringing love into reality and doing the best.

Pu Xiang Industrial Design Studio recently interviewed the founder of Infinity Studio, Yu Guanglai, and talked with him about the first half of his life dedicated to the statues.

01 The bond with model toys

Yu Guanglai has been associated with model toys for more than thirty years. Ever since he understood, most of his life has been closely connected with model toys.

The first model toy in Yu Guanglai's life was the Transformers that his mother bought for him. But at that time, he was young and playful, and the toys he wanted were both numerous and expensive. Yu Guanglai repeatedly dreamed of going to various kinds of toy stores, and sometimes he would wake up with toys in his arms. When he woke up, he found that it was just a dream, and he was very disappointed.

Once, the school organized a summer hiking. During the trip, Yu Guanglai stumbled into the side hall of the temple at the top of the mountain, and happened to catch the "Dream of the Red Chamber" silk figures exhibition, that was his first experience seeing the exhibition.

An honest and silent craftsman, standing aside to guard his silk figures' work. Each silk figure is shaped, framed, and filled by hand. In the exhibition, the classic scenes and characters of "Dream of the Red Chamber" are built, lifelike and vivid. This experience has left a deep impression on Yu Guanglai.

Later, he devoted himself to the business of Infinity Studio, because he likes statues very much, and he wanted to make up for the lack in his heart, to create more Chinoiserie-related products.

Yu Guanglai like Star Wars, and Lego, but he also likes the Water Margin, and Three Kingdoms. Of this like and the absence, Yu contacted the partners who like statues together, and they hit it off, a piece did create the first work - Zhao Yun.

As the world's first 1/4 of the Chinese theme statue, Zhao Yun marked the official establishment of the Infinity Studio. So no matter how many new works are launched later, the significance of Zhao Yun in Yu's heart is still the most important.

02 Create the top Chinese statue brand

From its establishment in 2015, it has been seven years since Infinity Studio was founded. During the seven years, the work has always been the first priority of Infinity Studio.

Chinese Zodiac Series

In 2022, Infinity Studio completed the Twelve Chinese Zodiacs series for Yuanmingyuan Park, which is actually a particularly significant event. These twelve bronze statues were originally the hydraulic bells statues of the Haiyan Hall in the Yuanmingyuan Park, with the heads of the zodiac on top and the bodies on the bottom. After the catastrophe of the burning Yuanmingyuan, the complete bronze statues have long since disappeared, and the whereabouts of four of them are still unknown.

Four years ago, when Yu visited the Osaka Museum, he found the portraits of animals in the collection interesting. But in the following year, when Yu was discussing cooperation with the National Library of China, he realized that this type of painting has a long history in China.

That year coincided with the Chinese Year of the Rat, and Yu decided to start restoring the bronze statues of the zodiac. He sought authorization, consulted a great deal of information, built models, and ensured that every detail of the texture was well documented. After three years, all twelve zodiacs were completed.

Prince of Lan Ling

Prince of Lan Ling is also a new work of Infinity Studio this year. It is the first male statue of the Xiao Ya Ji series, created by Mr. Luo Qisheng, one of the founders of Kaitian. Over the other two works of the series, Hui Yun Que and He Ji Fei Tian, with elegant postures and flowing clothing, are extremely charming in oriental aesthetics.

The creation of Prince of Lan Ling is inspired by Chinese-style music. The pipa and drums harmonize with each other in a majestic manner. In the resounding tune, an image of prince Lan Ling with a mask, riding a horse, and holding a spear was gradually born in Mr. Luo's mind.

Digital sculpture and original Chinese music are both very young and modern ways of presentation. Using this way to tell the history and imagine the style of the ancients is what Mr. Luo said "to do our little bit for the spread of Chinese culture."

In the course of its development, it is also proud that many well-known brands of IP have licensed their first China region to Infinity Studio, including Naruto, Dragon Ball, Bruce Lee, Neon Genesis Evangelion, etc.

Talking about the team, Yu always has this expectation: "I hope we can leave designers with tangible and real works that are within their reach. I hope we can let designers earn money in the way they love and spend a life full of love. I hope Infinity Studio can make a well-known Chinese brand for all lovers of statues and model toys, this is the mission of us.

Infinity Studio has always insisted on original works, and the Chinese style theme is the foundation. Infinity Studio hopes to explore and recreate more outstanding figures in Chinese history, and to radiate all aspects of Chinese culture with their glory.