Cai Guo-Qiang « Arrested Motion

Tag Archives: Cai Guo-Qiang

Videos: Cai Guo-Qiang – “The Birth of Tragedy”

Posted by sleepboy, October 2, 2020

Last weekend in Cognac, France, Cai Guo-Qiang livestreamed a colorful daytime explosion event on the Charente to honor the universal values of resilience, courage, and hope in the face of the global pandemic. Inspired by Nietzsche’s The Birth of Tragedy, the 15-minute fireworks event in three acts (commissioned to mark Hennessy X.O’s 150th anniversary) required twenty thousand shots of fireworks which were launched from 150 oak barrels floating on the river. Says Cai Guo-Qiang, “We are now entering a new chapter of humankind’s strenuous odyssey. The signal […]

Overtime: May 20 – May 26

Posted by sleepboy, May 26, 2019

10,000 porcelain birds scorched with gunpowder installed at NGV in Melbourne by Cai Guo-Qiang. Kehinde Wiley’s new show depicting Tahiti’s Māhū community and referencing Ganguin opens in Paris. David Zwirner to now represent Nate Lowman. Which mega-gallery has poached the most artist in the last three years. KAWS Spongebob painting hits $5m at auction. JR reveals his digital mural at SFMOMA. A profile on Avery Singer who was included in this year’s Venice Biennale. A buyer’s guide to the Whitney Biennial. Marina Abramović speaks on becoming […]

Videos: Can Guo-Qiang – “City of Flowers in the Sky” (Florence)

Posted by sleepboy, November 19, 2018

Over the weekend, Cai Guo-Qiang launched one of his signature firework performances in the skies above Florence. Entitled City of Flowers in the Sky, the explosive event was inspired by Botticelli’s masterpiece Primavera and heralds the opening of a massive solo exhibition presented by Uffizi Galleries and covering ten interlinked galleries. The solo exhibition from the Chinese artist is entitled Flora Commedia and features sixty of his famous gunpowder paintings in addition to sketches that document the creative process. Like the fireworks above Piazzale Michelangelo to mark the opening of the show, Cai “uses […]

Recap: Cai Guo-Qiang – “Color Mushroom Cloud” @ University of Chicago

Posted by sleepboy, December 22, 2017

Earlier this month, Cai Guo-Qiang launched one of his explosive new works in Chicago that he entitled Color Mushroom Cloud. Realized at exactly December 2, 3:25pm CST, the timing of the 75 meter tall piece coincided with the 75th year anniversary of the first controlled, self sustained nuclear chain reaction at the same location at the University of Chicago. Commissioned by the UChicago Arts the Smart Museum of Art, the site-specific creation from the Chinese artist is part of an ongoing series of public events – Reactions: New Perspectives On […]

Rewind: Sept 20 – June 8

Posted by sleepboy, June 9, 2017

It’s been quite a long while since one of our Rewind features. Here are some footage that you may be interested in since we last updated you on videos from the art world. Leading things off is a look at Johnny Depp’s downtown LA penthouse which includes some pieces of his art collection including a massive piece from Os Gemeos. Other worthy videos: POW! WOW! Hawaii 2017 official video Process video for Chuck Close’s “Self-Portrait” (2015) woodcut. Robert Mangold on Drawing, Printmaking and Painting. Trailer: Ed Atkins […]

Cai Guo-Qiang – “Sky Ladder” (China)

Posted by sleepboy, August 12, 2015

Explosive Chinese artist Cai Guo-Qiang recently successfully unleashed his Sky Ladder over Huiyu Island in Quanzhou to celebrate his grandmother’s 100th birthday. This fourth and final attempt is a culmination of 21 years of hard work to realize a vision he had when he was a child. Assisted by a helium balloon and ladder covered with pyrotechnics, the stunning display rose 500 meters into the air and lasted two and a half minutes. He further states – “Behind Sky Ladder lies a clear childhood dream of mine. […]

Showing: Cai Guo-Qiang – “Impromptu” @ Fundación Proa

Posted by sleepboy, January 12, 2015

In December, Cai Guo-Qiang opened his latest exhibition at Fundación Proa in Buenos Aires, his first solo showing in Argentina. Impromptu is a new series of works inspired by his time in the country, which has been at the same time baffling, illuminating, and liberating for his artistic vision. Included are pieces created in collaboration with the National University of Arts and teachers and students of the Municipal Institute of Ceramics of Avellaneda featuring his signature gunpowder drawings, a ceramic creeper that hangs through the library, nine ceramic figurines […]

Recap: Cai Guo-Qiang – “The Ninth Wave” @ Power Station of Art (Part III)

Posted by sleepboy, August 28, 2014

Part III of our coverage of Cai Guo-Qiang’s The Ninth Wave exhibition takes us inside the Power Station of Art in Shanghai as walk through the work on display. After an explosive opening ceremony and an initial public showcase of a new piece down the river, the Chinese artist treated fans in his home country to a sampling of his diverse work. Highlights include his famous suspended installation of a pack of swarming wolves, the commissioned gunpowder works we saw him create, as well as the […]

Recap: Cai Guo-Qiang – “The Ninth Wave” @ Power Station of Art (Part II)

Posted by sleepboy, August 25, 2014

After sharing photos of the high profile installation and an in depth look at the creation of new commissioned pieces for his new show in Shanghai, we now turn our attention to Cai Guo-Qiang’s explosive opening festivities at the Power Station of Art. The multi-color aerial spectacular hosted at the riverfront of the museum was a crowd pleaser and highlighted the firework art skills from the Chinese artist. Entitled Elegy, Consolation, and Remembrance, each chapter of the performance had special meaning from color to alluded imagery. Photo credit: Zhang Feiyu & […]

Recap: Cai Guo-Qiang – “The Ninth Wave” @ Power Station of Art (Part I)

Posted by sleepboy, August 19, 2014

After a look at the The Ninth Wave, a fishing boat installation from Cai Guo-Qiang’s hometown of Quanzhou carrying 99 fabricated animals, we now turn our attention to the exhibition with the same name at the Power Station of Art. Housed at a renovated power station in Shanghai, the ample space at the museum was a perfect setting for the Chinese artist’s work as well as the creative sessions (also see LA 2012) where pieces of commissioned art were produced utilizing his signature gunpowder technique. […]