As a result, cai guoqiang was exposed early on to western literature as well as traditional chinese art forms. There is an irresistible, herzogian flavor to kevin macdonalds new documentary, sky ladder. The national and international studio program at p. He was a child during mao zedongs cultural revolution and strongly influenced by societys vision for social utopia. Within the pages is attached a bundle of matches with a string that dangles out of the edge of the book, inviting the reader to pull it and in so doing ignite the book and set off the gunpowder. Also closing is the special exhibition everything is museum curated by cai as part of the retrospective. Chinese artist cai guoqiang is known for highlypublicized public spectacles that fill the sky with shimmering fireworks or colorful smoke. He studied stage design at the shanghai drama institute from 1981 to 1985 and attended the institute for contemporary art. This book contains a great many quality photos of cai guoqiang amazing, breathtaking works, and also includes an informative introduction and transcripts of a some interesting interviews with the artist. It celebrates the art and ambition of a guoqiang, who paints images in the sky using colorful fireworks. Cai guo qiang, born in fujian province in 1957, may be the most widely known chinese artist of his generation.
Along with telling his story of artistic success, macdonalds film specifically documents guoqiang as he tries to create his most demanding project yet, the sky laddera firework display that would ascend 1,650 feet into the air. Available in the aye simon reading room at the guggenheim is cais recent collaboration with ivory press, londonthe limited edition publication danger book. The project currently encompasses a wide range of areas and activities within the framework of contemporary art, including its own exhibition space and bookshop, art consultancy and art exhibitions curatorship, editorial services, audiovisual productions and education. Cai guoqiang is the author of life beneath the shadow 4.
Seeking a working method that would bring him a feeling of freedom, cai guo qiang experimented with various materials, and in 1989 he unveiled a series of drawings created with gunpowder. For the occasion, cai created the gunpowder drawing, homeland, depicting cais birthplace and hometownthe ancient city of quanzhou. Cai trained in stage design at the shanghai theatre acadmey. Installation view at cai guoqiangs studio, new york, ny, 2005. Oct 03, 2014 a chinese artist confronts environmental disaster. Suicide fireworks has been possible thanks to cai guoqiang, tatsumi masatoshi, hong hong wu, michelly yun, mariluz. In perhaps cais most compelling work yet, sky ladder 2015, the artist ignited a 1,650foottall ladder rigged with explosives and held aloft by a giant balloon. It is this close association between cai and the gallery over the past eighteen years continue reading cai guoqiang. Located in the guggenheims sackler center for arts education, this installment of the artists ongoing series features works. Edition of nine unique books, one prototype and one artists proof. I want to believe, the acclaimed retrospective exhibition of works by cai guoqiang closes at the guggenheim museum, new york next wednesday, may 28.
Along with telling his story of artistic success, macdonalds film specifically documents guoqiang as he tries. Cai guoqiangs multidisciplinary practice is conceptually grounded in contemporary social issues and his lifelong interest in eastern philosophy as a means to. Why is it important to make these violent explosions beautiful, he has asked. As an adolescent, cai witnessed the social effects of the cultural revolution. The artist mixed gunpowder with paste to draw various pictures in each danger book. At a time when the notion of the book is challenged by the advent of the screen and computer, there are many. Cai guoqiangs explosive art, preserved for the ages getty scientists explore the artists use of gunpowder and other materials for a definitive new book nancy kenney. Video documentation, ming kai leung and lukas hauser camera and lauren petty video. Cai guoqiang article about cai guoqiang by the free. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. Ming kai leung and lukas hauser camera and lauren petty video.
The video shown at the blood on paper exhibition was courtesy of cai studio, new york and bejing. Suicide fireworks 9 years ago the artist mixed gunpowder with paste to draw various pictures in each danger book. Cai guoqiang made significant contributions to the gallerys asia pacific triennials in 1996 and 1999, with his memorable gunpowder drawing and bamboo bridge across the watermall. The art of cai guo qiang 2016 tvma 1h 19m documentaries known for his spectacular pyrotechnic displays, chinese artist cai guo qiang creates his most ambitious project yet in this breathtaking documentary. He recently curated the chinese pavilion at the 51st venice biennale. Village towards the studio of cai guoqiang, i pass brownstones, hair salons. Wall st banks trading risk surges to highest since 2011 embraer left with limited. Told through the artists own words and those of family, friends, colleagues, and critics, sky ladder traces cais. Cai guoqiang by dana friishansen, 9780714840758, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that.
Currently, the guggenheim museum in new york presents cai guo qiang. As a result, cai guo qiang was exposed early on to western literature as well as traditional chinese art forms. Cai guo qiang is the author of life beneath the shadow 4. His father, cai ruiqin, was a calligrapher and traditional painter who worked in a bookstore. In his latest feature documentary, oscarwinning filmmaker kevin macdonald one day in september, the last king of scotland has unfettered access to worldrenowned contemporary artist, cai guoqiang. Jul 05, 20 while some works of art have survived thousands of years others are as fleeting as a shooting star. While living in japan from 1986 to 1995, cai guoqiang began exploring the properties of gunpowder in his drawings. Cai guoqiang, born december 8, 1957, quanzhou, fujian province, china, chinese pyrotechnical artist known for his dramatic installations and for using gunpowder as a medium cais fathera painter, historian, and bookstore ownerwas somewhat ambivalent toward mao zedong and the new chinese society that was emerging after the successful communist revolution.
Browse upcoming and past auction lots by cai guo qiang. Cai guo qiang was born in 1957 in quanzhou, fujian province, china. The drawing was ignited onsite on september 25, and it depicts ancient temples, banyan trees, distant mountains, and other historical buildings juxtaposed with frank gehrys. He was also involved in the first kids apt in 1999, with his bridgemaking activity. Realized at old turia riverbed park, between royal bridge and trinidad bridge, valencia, may 22, 2005, 12. Its called falling back to earth, by chinese artist cai guoqiang. One comment on the transient art of cai guo qiang danger book zoowithoutanimals says.
Suicide fireworks exploded prototype 2007 gunpowder, rice paste, and matches on paper, 48page handmade artist book 75 x 102. Ivorypress was founded in 1996 by elena ochoa foster as a publishing house specialising in artists books. I want to believe, a comprehensive retrospective of the chineseborn artist cai guoqiang until may 28, 2008. View danger book suicide fireworks by cai guo qiang on artnet. He then placed a bundle of matches on a striking strip. Penglai horai, satoyama museum of contemporary art kinare, niigata, japan. Cai guoqiang s danger book is made up of a series of drawings made using gunpowder and glue. Christies held its first auction in mainland china on september 26 in shanghai. Casting a critical eye over the guggenheim ubs map project itself, philippine critic and curator eileen legaspiramirez poses challenging questions about the purpose of transnational curating and the meanings of asia from an american perspective. A dangling string was attached to the bundle of matches to entice the reader to pull. Oct 25, 2017 cai guoqiang at the prado, on display in room c of the museo del prados jeronimos building. Cai guo qiang employs symbols, narratives, and traditions.
Cai guoqiang was born in 1957 in quanzhou city, fujian province, china. Cai guoqiang, 1957, chinese painter and a sculptor especially known for using gunpowder as a medium and explosions and fireworks as means of artistic expression, b. Cai guoqiangs multidisciplinary practice is conceptually grounded in contemporary social issues and his lifelong interest in eastern philosophy as a means to inquire into our relationship with the universe. The art of cai guoqiang 2016 tvma 1h 19m documentaries known for his spectacular pyrotechnic displays, chinese artist cai guoqiang creates his most ambitious project yet in this breathtaking documentary.
It is this close association between cai and the gallery over the past eighteen years. He is now based in new york, where his work has been presented at the metropolitan museum of art, among other venues. Gunpowder on paper, mounted on wood as ninepanel screen. Apr 14, 2008 currently, the guggenheim museum in new york presents cai guo qiang. This exhibition says a lot about the beauties and dangers of both nature and. During the 1990s he emerged on to the international art scene and has become a major figure of contemporary chinese art. Apr 17, 2002 cai guo qiang was born in quanzhou, china, in 1960, and lived in tokyo from 1985 to 1995, before moving to new york. Suicide fireworks has been possible thanks to cai guoqiang, tatsumi masatoshi, hong hong wu, michelly yun, mariluz hoyos, alicia lu and mc connellyhauser. Production still from the art in the twentyfirst century season 3 episode, power, 2005. Edition of nine unique books, one prototype, and one artist proof. Official facebook page of contemporary artist cai guoqiang. Cai guoqiangs danger book is made up of a series of drawings made using gunpowder and glue. Oct 20, 2014 cai guoqiangs danger book is made up of a series of drawings made using gunpowder and glue.
These drawings, entitled projects for extraterrestrials, are among the works published in this book, which accompanies an exhibition at the fondation cartier. Within the pagesis attached a bundle of matches with a string that dangles out of the edge of the book, inviting the reader to pull it and in so doing ignite the book and set off the gunpowder. Explore books by cai guoqiang with our selection at. Oct 14, 2016 it celebrates the art and ambition of a guoqiang, who paints images in the sky using colorful fireworks. Cai guoqiang was born in quanzhou, china, in 1960, and lived in tokyo from 1985 to 1995, before moving to new york. Gun powder is cai guo qiangs calling card, as the artist behind the fireworks displays of the beijing olympics, having also won the coveted golden lion award at. Installation view at cai guo qiang s studio, new york, ny, 2005.
Born in quanzhou, china but based in new york, cai has made a career from. Cais fathera painter, historian, and bookstore ownerwas somewhat ambivalent toward mao zedong and the new chinese society that was emerging after the successful. While other artists turn to the easel with paint or pastels, cai guoqiang prefers to make a statement with explosives. Cai guoqiang was born in 1957 in quanzhou city, fujian province, china, and lives and works in new york. Cai guoqiang is a contemporary chinese artist renowned for his innovative works which incorporate gunpowder and controlled explosions. They are in themselves a work of art, they come in all shapes, sizes and forms, often challenging our notions of what constitutes a book. A master of the ephemeral, chinese artist cai guo qiang uses the sky as his canvas and gunpowder as his paintbrush in his staged firework performances which can take place in day or night. The video is courtesy of the cai studio, ny and beijing. Cai guoqiang, born december 8, 1957, quanzhou, fujian province, china, chinese pyrotechnical artist known for his dramatic installations and for using gunpowder as a medium. Oct 14, 2016 some of cai guoqiangs art exists for mere moments. Cai guo qiang was born in 1957 in quanzhou city, fujian province, china, and lives and works in new york. Mar 25, 20 cai guoqiang made significant contributions to the gallerys asia pacific triennials in 1996 and 1999, with his memorable gunpowder drawing and bamboo bridge across the watermall.
Explosive artist cai guoqiang on politics and pyrotechnics. A chinese artist confronts environmental disaster the new. Meet the artist who blows things up for a living arts. The spectacular art of cai guoqiang books and arts abc radio. He has made projects in all the inhabited continents of the world. Cai guoqiang was born in 1957 in quanzhou, fujian province, china. While other artists turn to the easel with paint or pastels, cai guo qiang prefers to make a statement with explosives. A chinese artist confronts environmental disaster the. Drawn to the medium for its myriad of associations, his gunpowder.
Cai guoqiang, born in fujian province in 1957, may be the most widely known chinese artist of his generation. Jun 17, 2016 gun powder is cai guo qiang s calling card, as the artist behind the fireworks displays of the beijing olympics, having also won the coveted golden lion award at the venice bienale, cai guo qiang. Cai guoqiang on brilliant ideas episode 30 bloomberg. Ephemeral and monumental, the work of cai guoqiang is founded upon an. Danger book suicide fireworks by cai guoqiang on artnet. He then placed a bundle of matches on a striking strip along the base of each books spine. This work is number 5 from an edition of 9 unique works published by ivory press, london. Cais use of gunpowder has become central to his practice, leading to his experimentation with explosives and the development of his signature ignition events. In late january, as the main atrium of the guggenheim museum was cleared and reduced to a vast white nautilus shell, workers were hoisting cars, juggling wolves and laying down a rattan riverbed for cai guoqiangs impending retrospective. Suicide fireworks has been possible thanks to cai guo qiang, tatsumi masatoshi, hong hong wu, michelly yun, mariluz hoyos, alicia lu and mc connellyhauser. Seeking a working method that would bring him a feeling of freedom, cai guoqiang experimented with various materials, and in 1989 he unveiled a series of drawings created with gunpowder.
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