Jan 29, 2014 6:30 AM

Gallery: A Terracotta Army of Girls Inspired by China's Bias Toward Boys

Photo: Zachary Bako
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The completed Terracotta Daughters.
Photo: Zachary Bako
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The surrounding land where two of the girls chosen for the project live.

Photo: Zachary Bako
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Plaster being applied to one of the original sculptures to construct a mold.
Photo: Zachary Bako
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Wen creating the distinct uniform of the Terracotta Warrior on a miniature Daughter.

Photo: Zachary Bako
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Inside the oven.
Photo: Zachary Bako
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Wen and another artisan take time after loading and firing the oven to make certain that nothing was obstructing the chimneys. If the oven is not properly ventilated, the work inside could eventually crack and break apart.

Photo: Zachary Bako
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Wen prepares the molds .
Photo: Zachary Bako
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Nourry re-works a few details on one of the eight original sculptures. The eight original sculptures were sold before their completion to collectors to finance the project and to fund a minimum of three years of education to the eight orphans, whom the project was modeled after.

Photo: Zachary Bako
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The artist takes a break. Nourry traveled back and forth to Xi’an from New York throughout the year to complete the project inside a Terracotta Warrior replica factory. Sometimes staying 30 or more days to complete the next phase of the project.
Photo: Zachary Bako
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Seven months after Nourry’s initial visit to meet the children that would be connected to the project, she traveled back with a van to surprise the girls with a trip to see the iconic warriors back in Xi’an, 8 hours away. The following day, Nourry introduced the girls to their terracotta doubles.

Photo: Zachary Bako
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The local artisans held a workshop for the girls and explained the process of creating their terracotta doubles.
Photo: Zachary Bako
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Wen sanding imperfections inside the neckline to correctly fit one of the heads of the original eight sculptures.

Photo: Zachary Bako
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Wen sanding imperfections inside the neckline to correctly fit one of the heads of the original eight sculptures.
Photo: Zachary Bako
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The completed Terracotta Daughters are boxed up to travel worldwide.

Photo: Zachary Bako
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Chinese artisan Wen Xian Feng (left) and New York-based French artist Prune Nourry amongst their Terracotta Daughter sculptures in Xi'an, China.

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