Wu Xiangfeng, president of If Art, leads a professional team to make derivative art products based on contemporary artists' works. Photo: Courtesy of If Art

Derivative artwork refers to art or art-like products that are based on the work of another artist or a collection of art. If Art, founded in 2011, is one of China's first domestic art service agencies and a leading cultural and creative product research and promotion company.

President of If Art, Wu Xiangfeng, said the derivative art his company produces is designed for practical use.

"For example, the design of our portable mobile power source is based on contemporary artist Yue Minjun's oil painting, Journey to the West. We also have iPhone cases, business card holders and scarves derived from contemporary painter He Wenjue's oil painting series, Water.

If Art is committed to providing excellent services to artists and art institutions, setting up exhibition and trading opportunities, and forging the way for derivative art products, including art scans, copies, framing, design, and photo album printing. If Art also employs a luxury derivative art design and development team.

The company strives to maintain a streamlined process, reducing unnecessary energy and time commitments for artists and art institutions.

In past years, Chinese derivative art has gained public attention and recognition. However, the derivative art market as a whole still has more room to expand.

"Developing the derivative art market is just like climbing to the top of a mountain," Wu said. "Before you stand on the top of the mountain and appreciate the beautiful scenery, you have to take time and effort to hike up the mountain through the thorns."

If Art has established crossover cooperation with many industries, including tourism, film, and the Internet. In the film industry, If Art worked with famous director Ning Hao to create a tailor-made film memorabilia cup called, "Afar," for the movie Breakup Buddies (2014). The design of the cup symbolized the hero and heroine's emotional meetings and partings.

Wu said If Art is looking to the foreign derivative art market for guidance. "The development of foreign derivative art, in terms of both time and scale, is far ahead of the domestic market, so we will study what they've done," Wu said.

"Our team members are all from China's best design companies. In the future, I'm confident If Art can become a bridge connecting art with the public."