Perforated stainless sculpture
Perforated and cut-metal sculpture - pattern as structure.
- Shanghai Xionglan Culture Communication Co., Ltd. (brand: Xionglan Art)
- Shanghai-based workshop · delivery in 67 Chinese cities
- 10 capability groups / 102 individual techniques · design, fabrication and installation in-house
- Phone +86 156 0163 6249 · Mon–Sun 09:00–18:00 (CST)
Cutting a pattern into the plate turns the sculpture into a screen: solid from some angles, near-transparent from others, and patterned with light as the sun moves. The cut pattern can come from data, optics or a brand mark.
Commissioned work in perforated stainless sculpture normally runs from 6 to 30 m², with 8–18 working days in production from approved drawings. The reference range for this technique is CNY 0+ per m², quoted itemised. It sits within our Sculpture Fabrication capability, alongside 13 related techniques, and the 4-point deliverable below is what a commission includes as standard.
When perforated stainless sculpture is the right answer - and when it is not
Perforated and openwork metal is chosen where the sculpture should be light, screen-like and visually permeable - pieces that change with the viewing angle, cast patterned shadow, or divide space without blocking it. It suits atria, screens, facades and installations where transparency is part of the intent. It is the wrong choice where the piece must read as a solid mass, because openwork at a distance can look thin and unresolved.
How the work is actually carried out
The pattern is designed and cut digitally, which allows the density and the hole sizes to be varied across the form so the piece reads differently from different angles. Cutting is done by laser or waterjet to a tolerance that lets the sections align cleanly when assembled. Edges are deburred and the cut faces finished, because they are visible from both sides in most designs. The structure behind the pattern is designed to be minimal but adequate, since openwork loses stiffness compared with a closed form.
Typical applications
Typical specifications
| Cutting | Laser or waterjet on 1.5-6 mm plate |
|---|---|
| Pattern | Supplied as vector artwork or generated from data |
| Sizes | From 1 m panels to 12 m+ assemblies |
| Finish | Brushed, mirror, painted or PVD-coated |
| Capability | Sculpture Fabrication |
| Reference range | CNY 0+ per m² |
| Techniques in this capability | 14 |
| Coverage | Shanghai base, nationwide delivery, overseas projects on request |
Reference price bands for Perforated stainless sculpture
Indicative only, based on the scope normally quoted for perforated stainless sculpture. A firm price follows a site survey and an itemised quotation split into material, labour, finishing, packing and freight.
| Pricing basis | Priced per piece or per project rather than per square metre |
|---|---|
| Reference range | CNY 0+ per m² |
| How we quote | Itemised: material, labour, finishing, packing and freight shown as separate lines |
Build tiers for perforated stainless sculpture
Perforated stainless sculpture is not one product at one size: the table below is the same scope ladder we quote on, so you can see where your project sits before asking for a price.
| Build tier | Typical area | Production days | What changes at this tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | 6–30 m² | 30–70 | Up to 30 m², one substrate and one access setup, 30–70 days in the workshop. |
| Tier 2 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | 6–30 m² across two or more faces, 3–8 days, substrate build-up agreed per location. |
| Tier 3 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | 6–30 m² across two or more faces, 3–8 days, substrate build-up agreed per location. |
| Tier 4 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | 6–30 m² across two or more faces, 3–8 days, substrate build-up agreed per location. |
| Tier 5 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | 6–30 m² across two or more faces, 3–8 days, substrate build-up agreed per location. |
| Tier 6 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | 6 m² and above, multiple substrate types and phased access, 3–8 days with a join and numbering plan. |
What we deliver
- Concept sketches and a scaled maquette for sign-off
- Structural calculation and internal armature where required
- Fabrication, welding, surface finishing and protective coating
- Delivery, on-site assembly and foundation coordination
Faults we see most often in perforated stainless sculpture
Each of these is a field failure rather than a workshop one, and each is cheaper to prevent at enquiry stage than to correct after installation.
- Cutting the pattern without a structural check, so the piece flexes or resonates in wind at the open sections.
- Leaving cut edges unfinished, which is where corrosion starts and where users cut their hands.
- Designing a uniform pattern across a curved form and expecting it to read well; density variation is what gives openwork its depth.
What to settle before an overseas project starts
| Pattern and scale | Send the pattern artwork and the intended reading distance. Hole size that works at two metres can disappear at twenty. |
|---|---|
| Wind and structure | Openwork pieces catch wind differently from solid ones. Tell us the exposure and who is checking the structure. |
| Double-sided finish | Confirm whether both faces must be finished. Most openwork is seen from both sides, and an unfinished reverse is a common oversight. |
Working with us from overseas
Enquiry to installation, one point of contact. Export packing, shipping, commercial terms and quality control →
Design intent and what drives the cost
| Technique | Perforated stainless sculpture |
|---|---|
| Positioning | Perforated and cut-metal sculpture - pattern as structure. |
| Floor area normally quoted | 6–30 m² per commission |
| Typical production window | 8–18 working days from approved drawings |
| Main cost drivers | Area and repetition; substrate preparation; detail and modelling time; surface finish; access and working hours |
| What we quote separately | Material, labour, finishing, packing, freight and site measures - each as its own line |
Representative work
Sculpture Fabrication projects photographed on completion.
Sculpture Fabrication — Cast bronze sculpture
Sculpture Fabrication — Mirror-polished stainless sculpture
Sculpture Fabrication — Animal & mascot sculpture
Sculpture Fabrication — Stone sculptureCommon questions
Does cutting weaken the piece structurally?
Can the pattern be generated from our data?
How long does a large sculpture take end to end?
Discuss perforated stainless sculpture
Send photographs, drawings or a 3D file with approximate dimensions. You will get a technique recommendation, a reference price band and a production schedule.