Donald Trump’s swearing-in ceremony is coming up. And sculptor Hong Jinshi is happy with that. His porcelain statues in which ‘The Donald’ is meditating with crossed legs like a Buddha, are highly sought after in the run-up to the inauguration.
Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 47th American president on Monday, January 20. And sculptor Hong Jinshi (47) is reaping the benefits. He is the creator of a small Buddha statue where the future American president is meditating cross-legged.
His images quickly became a success on the Chinese online store Tabao in 2021. Sales increased again after Trump’s election victory in November, Jinshi told the AFP news agency.
As a joke
The porcelain Trump has an inscription in Mandarin: “Make your company great again”. Anyone who wants to purchase a statue will pay 140 euros for the smallest version. The Chinese pay the equivalent of 2,600 euros for the largest statue. The figurines are therefore not for everyone. Although images are also for sale in the US on Amazon and the Chinese Temu for 40 euros. (Read more below the photo)
Sculptor Hong Jinshi with one of his Trump statues, in a larger version. — © AFP
Jinshi first made the images as a joke. But he explains the success by the contradiction of the work of art. “Trump’s personality and the statue’s appearance are radically opposed to each other.” The ruthless troublemaker in contrast with the inner peace of a meditating Buddha. Hundreds of copies have been sold in recent years.
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And Jinshi hasn’t given up, because he has now finished a new statue. ‘First Buddy’ He transformed Elon Musk into Iron Man, Marvel’s superhero in an impressive metal armor.
Customs duties
For the time being, new orders continue to come in smoothly, although it remains to be seen whether this will remain the case. Because the advertisements for the statue have now disappeared on Chinese online stores. Jinshi thinks Buddhists find his images offensive. (Read more below the photo)
Just like in 2021, the Trump statue is a hit in China — © REUTERS
And the growing tensions between the US and China could also throw a spanner in the works. Because Trump’s plans to increase customs duties on Chinese imports are a thorn in Ji Xinping’s side. Taiwan’s status also does not exactly bode well for Sino-American relations. The island is an important ally according to the US, but a renegade province according to China.
Still, Jinshi is looking forward to the inauguration. “When he is president, there are funny stories every day.”