There is an air of Montmartre in the streets of Dafen. Everywhere, we find easels, brushes and, above all, paintings by masters, or almost. In the village, you will only find copies, sometimes very far from the original work. Amateurs or artists, everyone gets involved. However, some people do not hesitate to travel miles to acquire a fake canvas. This village in southern China experienced its golden age in the early 2000s. At the time, three out of five reproductions sold worldwide came from here. This is how Xiaoyong Zhao becomes the Chinese Van Gogh. It’s been 27 years since this former worker left his bags in Dafen to try his luck. His style led him to specialize in reproductions of Van Gogh, very popular in China. Today, he wants to create his own creations, but it is difficult to step out of the master’s shadow. The vast majority of his customers continue to ask him for copies. A reproduction can cost up to 6,700 euros. Financially, it is certain, the student has far surpassed the master. Vincent Van Gogh is said to have only sold one tray during his lifetime. TF1 | Report M. Zambrano, J. Jankowski, K. Gao
