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Birth of the Bronze Sculptures
The process of creating a bronze sculpture is quite complicated. From the initial vision of the artist, Yu Shu, to a complete bronze bust of Charlie Munger, it is a journey that spans over a year. Here are the simplified steps of how the bust comes to life.
The Process
Here are the simplified steps of how the bust comes to life.
1
Clay Sculpture
To create the bronze sculptures, artist Yu Shu transformed her vision into the sculpture by using clay.
2
The Mold
A silicon mold is created in order to start the casting process.
3
Wax Sculpture
A layer of wax is poured into the mold to create a wax sculpture. Artist must inspect the end product of the wax layer to ensure it remains true to the original clay model.
4
Casting the Ceramic Mold
The wax sculpture is dipped into ceramic slurry and covered with fine ceramic particles until the casting forms a hard shell. The drying process for this stage takes 2 weeks.
5
Lost Wax
Melt the wax in the kiln, leaving an empty cavity within the ceramic shell.
6
Casting
Melted bronze is poured into the empty shell or cavity. Once the casting cools down, the shell is carefully broken away, leaving the unfinished bronze. Assembling is required, and the piece is then sandblasted to give a rough-polished bronze sculpture, preparing it for the final finish.
7
Inspection
Yu Shu inspects each piece to ensure it remains true to the original clay sculpture. Any imperfections are identified and corrected.
8
Patina
During this stage, the busts are treated with liver sulfur, heat, water, and other chemicals to give them an aged appearance and to seal the bronze, ensuring it will last for centuries.
