#Cai Guo-Quiang

[lesmachins]

Sky Ladder, Cai Guo-Qiang

[jordi-gali]

Cai Guo-Quiang

[danieldaou]

Cai Guo-Quiang

[truthblockchain]

Blockchain Exhibits At Centre Pompidou And LACMA

The Centre Pompidou in Paris on February 10 announced that it had purchased eighteen NFTs by thirteen artists renowned for their work in the genre. The acquisition, which encompasses crypto art, plastic arts, net art, and generative art, is the first of its kind by a major French art institution, and expands on the Pompidou’s history of acquiring work in new media. “Web3 is an innovative territory that artists have now seized upon to create original and daring work,” said Pompidou director Xavier Rey in a statement, “and this collection reaffirms our support for artists in their conquest of new means of expression, which is the foundation of modern art.”

On the other side of the globe, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art on February 13 revealed that it had received a gift of twenty-two blockchain artworks from a donor using the handle Cozomo de’Medici. LACMA characterized the gift as the “largest collection of its kind” to enter a US museum. Among the artists represented in the donation are Dmitri Cherniak, Cai Guo-Quiang, Matt DesLauriers, Monica Rizzoli, and Claire Silver. AI works, photos, the first decentralized book ever to be minted to the Ethereum blockchain, and NFTs are included in the trove, which is believed to have been donated pseudonymously by Snoop Dogg. Known to be an advocate of Web3 and crypto, the iconic rapper in 2021 seemingly drew back the veil on his identity in a tweet.

“With this gift, my goal was to help bridge the worlds of on-chain art and contemporary art, which until now have existed separately,” Cozomo de’Medici said in a statement. “I’m thrilled to have these historically significant on-chain works contextualized beside many iconic works of art in LACMA’s collection.”

[imcubo]

Sky Ladder, by Cai Guo-Quiang 蔡国强

[comporsilencios]

[unetealombre]

[estoyalmando]

Isabel Coixet recoge el proceso creativo del artista Cai Guo-Quiang en 'El espíritu de la pintura', el lunes 29 de enero en Movistar Xtra

Isabel Coixet recoge el proceso creativo del artista Cai Guo-Quiang en ‘El espíritu de la pintura’, el lunes 29 de enero en Movistar Xtra

Isabel Coixet dirige este documental de Cai Guo-Quiang, el primer artista vivo en exponer en El Prado y que ha concebido una obra inédita para exponerla en el museo. La película relata el proceso de gestación y creación del proyecto expositivo del artista. (more…)

[architectnews]

2021 Praemium Imperiale Awards

2021 Praemium Imperiale Awards, Architecture Laureate, Architect, Japan Art Association Award Winners, News

2021 Praemium Imperiale Awards News

14 Sep 2021

2021 Praemium Imperiale Awards

The Japan Art Association and Lord Patten of Barnes, Praemium Imperiale’s International Advisor in the UK, have today announced the recipients of the 2021 Praemium Imperiale Awards:

Painting: Sebastião SALGADO (France/Brazil)

photo © The Japan Art Association / Shun Kambe

Sculpture: James TURRELL (USA)

photo © The Japan Art Association / Yutaka Sato

Architecture: Glenn MURCUTT (Australia)

photo © Anthony Browell

Music: Yo-Yo MA (USA)

(USA)

Yo-Yo Ma performing in Mumbai, India, as part of the Bach Project (2019) © Austin Mann

Each Laureate receives an honorarium of 15 million Yen (c. £100,000). The awards are given by the Japan Art Association under the honorary patronage of His Imperial Highness Prince Hitachi, younger brother of the Emperor Emeritus of Japan. In addition to the Praemium Imperiale Awards, the 5 million Yen (c. £33,000) Grant for Young Artists has been awarded to The Central Institute for Restoration, founded in 1939 with the aim of conserving and restoring Italy’s cultural and artistic heritage, threatened at the time by the outbreak of the Second World War. The Grant will fund 30 student research projects.

The internationally renowned photographer Sebastião Salgado will be the subject of a major exhibition at London’s Science Museum this autumn (13 October 2021 – March 2022). The series of 200 breath-taking black and white photographs are drawn from his latest work, Amazônia, a seven-year study of the Amazon ecosystem and the way of life of its indigenous people.

The book, Amazônia, was published in May this year. Salgado and his wife Lélia moved to France in 1969 as political refugees from Brazil. Initially trained as an economist, he took up photography full time in 1973. He works thematically, using only natural light, his photos posing serious questions about the imbalance of wealth and the impact of wars and disasters. Since the 1990s, he has been actively involved with environmental and reforestation issues through the Instituto Terra organisation that he and his wife established in his home in Brazil.

Lord Patten remarked: ‘Hot on the heels of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics that captured the world’s imagination, this year’s Praemium Imperiale serves as an opportune reminder of the important contribution that Japan has made in honouring achievement in the arts. As artists and cultural organisations around the world begin to recover from the devastations of the past 18 months, I hope this year’s laureates and their important contribution to civilisation will be a source of inspiration for fellow artists, governments and arts lovers.’

Since 1989, the Praemium Imperiale Awards have been given annually in the categories drawn from Painting, Sculpture, Architecture, Music and Theatre/Film to cover fields of achievement not represented by the Nobel Prizes. The Laureates are selected from a list submitted by six International Advisors to the Japan Art Association.

While maintaining the Awards’ original mandate to select candidates who have made a major international impact in their particular field, the International Advisors for the Awards and their committees have been looking beyond their national boundaries for ground-breaking artists to recommend to the Japan Art Association. Former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe has been appointed the latest International Advisor, presiding over the Asian Nomination Committee. He succeeds the late former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone who passed away in November 2019.

Arthur and Yvonne Boyd Education Centre, 1996 – 99, NSW, Australia © Anthony Browell, Courtesy of TOTO Publishing

• £400,000 award given by the Japan Art Association under the honorary patronage of His Imperial Highness Prince Hitachi, younger brother of the Emperor Emeritus of Japan

• The Advanced Training School of the Central Institute for Restoration (Italy) receives Grant for Young Artists

• Former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe to become International Advisor to the Award, presiding over the Asian Nomination Committee

Previous British winners include David Hockney, Mona Hatoum, Anish Kapoor, Antony Gormley, Norman Foster, Richard Rogers, David Chipperfield, Judi Dench, Anthony Caro and Tony Cragg.

Walsh House, 2001 – 05 NSW, Australia © Anthony Browell, Courtesy of TOTO Publishing

2021 Praemium Imperiale Awards images/information received 140921

Previously on e-architect:

Praemium Imperiale Architecture Laureate Past Winners

13 Sep 2016

Paulo Mendes da Rocha wins Praemium Imperiale 2016 for Architecture

The Japan Art Association has today announced the recipients of the 2016 Praemium Imperiale Awards:

Praemium Imperiale 2016 for Architecture

Architect Dominique Perrault wins Praemium Imperiale 2015 for Architecture

Praemium Imperiale 2015 for Architecture

17 Sep 2013

David Chipperfield wins Praemium Imperiale 2015 for Architecture

Architectural Laureate of the Praemium Imperiale 2013

photo © Nick Knight

David Chipperfield is announced as the Architectural Laureate for the 2013 edition of the Japan Art Association’s Praemium Imperiale. The award will be presented by HIH Prince Hitachi, brother of Emperor Akihito, at a ceremony in Tokyo on 16 October 2013.

David Chipperfield Architect

12 Sep 2012

Henning Larsen wins Praemium Imperiale Architecture Laureate 2012

PRAEMIUM IMPERIALE AWARDS 2012 ANNOUNCED

Today, The Japan Art Association announced the names of this year’s Praemium Imperiale Laureates:

Painting: Cai Guo-Qiang

Sculpture: Cecco Bonanotte

Architecture: Henning Larsen

Music: Philip Glass

Theatre/Film: Yoko Morishita

The Praemium Imperiale is a global arts prize awarded annually by the Japan Art Association. Now in its 24th year, since its inauguration in 1989 it has become a mark of the highest international distinction for achievement in the arts. The awards honour individuals from all over the world who have made an outstanding contribution to the development of the arts and are made in five categories – Painting, Sculpture, Architecture, Music and Theatre/film.

photo : Agnete Schlichtkrull

The awards will be presented by Prince Hitachi, Honorary Patron of the Japan Art Association, the younger brother of the Emperor of Japan, at a ceremony in Tokyo in October. Each Laureate will receive an honorarium of 15 million yen (c. £115,000), a diploma and a medal – making the Awards globally the most substantial.

The list of major artists selected this year includes Cai Guo-Quiang, the brilliantly innovative Chinese artist who created the memorable ‘Footprints in the Sky’ works for the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics – so appropriate for this Olympic year. He is the first Chinese Praemium Imperiale Laureate.

Henning Larsen image from architects

Henning Larsen, the great Scandinavian architect responsible for so many outstanding, light-filled buildings both in his native Scandinavia but also in the Middle East, is another first – the first Danish Laureate for Praemium Imperiale.

This year, the Music Category has been given to Philip Glass – one of the most influential composers of the modern period and well known to many for his collaborations with musicians as diverse as Ravi Shankar, David Bowie, Brian Eno and Leonard Cohen.

The Japanese ballet dancer, Yoko Morishita in the category of Theatre/Film and the Italian sculptor, Cecco Bonanotte in the category of Sculpture further emphasis the rich diversity of these awards.

Lord Patten of Barnes, UK’s International Advisor to the Praemium Imperiale Awards says, “ it is fitting that, in this Olympic year, one of the artists who contributed so much to the Beijing Olympics be honoured. But let’s not forget that Anish Kapoor and Zaha Hadid who have made a major impression on the London Olympics, are also members of the very exclusive club of past Praemium Imperiale Laureates (Anish Kapoor 2011 and Zaha Hadid 2009)”.

Praemium Imperiale Architecture Laureate Archive

Ricardo Legorreta wins Praemium Imperiale in 2011 photograph of Ricardo Legorreta from B&Q Praemium Imperiale 2011

architect Ricardo Legorreta

Toyo Ito wins Praemium Imperiale Architecture Laureate for 2010 photograph © 2007 Deborah Bullen Praemium Imperiale 2010

architect Toyo Ito

Zaha Hadid wins Praemium Imperiale Architecture Laureate for 2009 picture from architects Praemium Imperiale 2009

architect Zaha Hadid

Location: Tokyo, Japan, Asia

Praemium Imperiale – Background Information

Praemium Imperiale

The Praemium Imperiale was established in 1988 to mark the centennial of the Japan Art Association and to honour the wish of the late Prince Takamatsu, its Honorary Patron for 58 years, “to contribute to enhancing and promoting the cultures and arts of the world”. As well as honouring five international artists each year, it also gives a grant to a Young Artists group, who nurture young talent.

Japan Art Association

The Japan Art Association is the oldest cultural foundation in Japan, established in 1887. It runs the Ueno Royal Museum in Tokyo, and organizes and holds art exhibitions. Prince Hitachi, younger brother of the Emperor, has been its Honorary Patron since 1987. The Association has presented five Praemium Imperiale Awards every year since 1989.

Architecture Awards

Pritzker Prize architects

Stirling Prize

Architect Offices

Sustainable Architecture

World Architecture Festival Awards

RIBA Royal Gold Medal

Interiors

Comments / photos for the Praemium Imperiale Architecture Laureate News – 2020 Awards Postponement page welcome

Website: www.praemiumimperiale.org

The post 2021 Praemium Imperiale Awards appeared first on e-architect.

[dengusmaximus]

zachlieberman @ September 13, 2021 at 08:35PM

cai guo-quiang https://t.co/B43qH2LFKq

— zach lieberman (@zachlieberman) Sep 14, 2021

from http://twitter.com/zachlieberman via IFTTT

[afriupdatenews]

To celebrate a century and a half of creating and mastering the perfect blend, Hennessy XO presented a bespoke daytime fireworks event created by acclaimed artist Cai Guo-Qiang. The daytime fireworks event was the centrepiece of Hennessy X.O’s 150th Anniversary World Odyssey program and was experienced globally via live stream—a first for both Cai Guo-Qiang and the Maison.

Cai Guo-Qiang’s career has been marked by his creative take on contemporary social issues, and in this collaboration, he took inspiration from the 3 core elements of the cycle of life: creation, destruction, and the human spirit that imbibes resilience. The three-act fireworks unfold as an act of drama, a piece of poetic writing, and a scroll of calligraphy. Millions around the world viewed the 45-minute artistic display via live stream. Observing the display of multi-colored fireworks launched from 150 oak barrels floating on the Charente River. Guests in Lagos were hosted in an exclusive location to bask in the celebration as the fireworks presentation exhibited each act with spectacular flair leaving the guests in awe.

The General Manager of Moët Hennessy Sebastian Chouen while commenting on the success of the event said:

“Celebrating Hennessy XO’s 150th anniversary embodied all that Maurice Hennessy, the creator of this iconic carafe, put into creating this blend and it has been an honour for us to collaborate with Cai Guo- Quiang. World Odyssey sought to convey the duality of this period; through the difficulties the opportunities to celebrate remain, and Hennessy will continue to be a worthy companion.”

Recent global events have reminded us of the most positive attributes of human nature – our capacity to hope, persist, and remain optimistic in trying times.

Check out some photos from the event:

If you missed out on the festivities, fear not – kindly visit /www.hennessy.com/en-us  

Hennessy XO Marks Its 150th Anniversary With An Outstanding Virtual Immersive Experience By Cai Guo Qiang To celebrate a century and a half of creating and mastering the perfect blend, Hennessy XO presented a bespoke daytime fireworks event created by acclaimed artist Cai Guo-Qiang.

[intrusions-exhibition]

Works Cited:

“Dying Tree.” brandonballengee.com, Balengée, Brandon, 2013, brandonballengee.com/dying-tree/. 

“Hole covered with small pointed rocks, Clapham, Yorkshire.” Goldsworthy, Andy, January 1980, www.goldsworthy.cc.gla.ac.uk/images/l/ag_01380.jpg. 

“Woven branch arch, Langholm, Dumfriesshire.” Goldsworthy, Andy, April 1986, www.goldsworthy.cc.gla.ac.uk/images/l/ag_03537.jpg. 

“Balanced river stones, Brough, Cumbria.” Goldsworthy, Andy,  24 September 1982, www.goldsworthy.cc.gla.ac.uk/images/l/ag_02320.jpg. 

“Stone circle, sinking into the sand, Morecambe Bay, Lancashire.” Goldsworthy, Andy, March 1976, www.goldsworthy.cc.gla.ac.uk/images/l/ag_00005.jpg.

“Andy Goldsworthy (British, born 1956).” Artnet, www.artnet.com/artists/andy-goldsworthy/. 

“Sun Branch.” Eliasson, Olafur, Photos by Jens Ziehe, 2019, olafureliasson.net/archive/artwork/WEK110916/sun-branch#slideshow. “Head On.”caiguoqiang.com, Cai Guo-Qiang, Commissioned by Deutsche Bank AG, Photos by Hiro Ihara, courtesy Cai Studio, caiguoqiang.com/projects/projects-2006/head-on/. 

Cai, Guo-Quiang. “Cai Guo-Qiang: I Want to Believe - Head on, 2006.” Youtube, uploaded by Museo Guggenheim Bilbao, 30 April 2009, www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rJcem92ns0. 

Art Works For Change, portfolio of artist Cai Guo-Qiang, www.artworksforchange.org/portfolio/cai-guo-qiang/. 

“Mobile Matrix.” Orozco, Gabriel, Photo by Charles Watlington, 2006, artcritical.com/2010/01/06/gabriel-orozco-at-the-museum-of-modern-art-new-york/gabriel-orozco/. 

“Sandstars.” Guggenheim Museum, Orozco, Gabriel, Photo by David Heald, November 9, 2012–January 13, 2013, www.guggenheim.org/exhibition/gabriel-orozco-asterisms. 

Helguera, Pablo. “MoMA: Biography of a Whale.” InsideOut, 8 Feb. 2010, www.moma.org/explore/inside_out/2010/02/08/biography-of-a-whale/.

“Gabriel Orozco: Asterisms.” Guggenheim, 11 Dec. 2018, www.guggenheim.org/exhibition/gabriel-orozco-asterisms. 

“Midway: Message from the Gyre.” chrisjordan.com, Jordan, Chris, 2006-Current, www.chrisjordan.com/gallery/midway/#CF000313%2018x24.

Jordan, Chris. “Midway: Message from the Gyre.” Chris Jordan photographic arts, www.chrisjordan.com/gallery/midway/#about.

“Salinas #5: Aquaculture, Cádiz, Spain.” edwardburtynsky.com, Burtynsky, Edward, 2013, www.edwardburtynsky.com/projects/photographs/anthropocene

“Clearcut #1: Palm Oil Plantation, Borneo, Malaysia.” edwardburtynsky.com, Burtynsky, Edward, 2016, www.edwardburtynsky.com/projects/photographs/anthropocene

“Oil Bunkering #4: Niger Delta, Nigeria.” edwardburtynsky.com, Burtynsky, Edward, 2016, www.edwardburtynsky.com/projects/photographs/anthropocene. 

“Building Ivory Tusk Mound: Nairobi, Kenya.” edwardburtynsky.com, Burtynsky, Edward, 25 April 2016, www.edwardburtynsky.com/projects/photographs/anthropocene. 

Burtynsky, Edward. “Extract from Burtynsky’s essay, ‘Life in the Anthropocene’,”www.edwardburtynsky.com/projects/photographs/anthropocene. 

“Desolation Desert: Lithium Extraction #1, Salar de Atacama, Chile.” Maisel, David,  2018, davidmaisel.com/works/desolation-desert/#7.  

“The Mining Project: Clifton, Arizona #5.” Maisel, David, 1989, davidmaisel.com/works/the-mining-project/#11. 

“The Lake Project: #67.” Maisel, David, 2015, davidmaisel.com/works/the-lake-project/#8. 

“The Forest: #4 (Chesuncook Lake, Maine).” Maisel, David, 1986, davidmaisel.com/works/the-forest/#4. 

“The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living.”damienhirst.com,  Hirst, Damien, Photographed by Prudence Cuming Associates, 1991, www.damienhirst.com/the-physical-impossibility-of. 

“Away From The Flock.” damienhirst.com,  Hirst, Damien, Photographed by Prudence Cuming Associates, 1994, damienhirst.com/away-from-the-flock. 

“The Dream.” damienhirst.com,  Hirst, Damien,Photographed by Prudence Cuming Associates, 2008, damienhirst.com/the-dream. 

“Beautiful Architect.” damienhirst.com,  Hirst, Damien, Photographed by Stephen White, 2003, damienhirst.com/beautiful-architect.  

“Lukaemia.” damienhirst.com,  Hirst, Damien, Photograph Courtesy of White Cube, 2003, damienhirst.com/leukaemia. 

Stanska, Zuzanna. “The Story Of Damien Hirst's Famous Shark.” DailyArtMagazine.com - Art History Stories, Daily Art Magazine, 7 Feb. 2018, www.dailyartmagazine.com/story-damien-hirst-shark/.

Goldstein, Caroline. “How Many Animals Have Died for Damien Hirst's Art to Live? We Counted.” Artnet News, 16 Aug. 2017, news.artnet.com/art-world/damien-whats-your-beef-916097.  

[annepourny]

“OUT OF THE CLOSET”  New York

My paintings at Denise Bibro Gallery for the summer show

On the first morning of my recent stay in New York, in June 2019,  I wanted to revisit the Guggenheim Museum and a pleasant surprise awaited me because the museum, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of its creation, entrusted to 6 contemporary artists the choice of works exhibited among those of his own collections of modern and contemporary works of art.

These artists, Cai-Guo-Quiang (a friend of Wang Yan Cheng), Paul Chan, Jenny Holzer, Julie Mehretu, Richard Prince and Carrie Mae Weems, provide an unusual look at the nascent years of American and foreign abstraction, what a treat!

During this stay in New York, I reconnected with the Gallery Denise Bibro, a beautiful gallery located in Chelsea for more than 20 years, after being created in Soho. Denise offered me to participate in the exhibition which was to start the following week because she particularly appreciated my recent work in China, including rice paper inks.

Before returning to France, I could not be present at the inauguration, Thursday, June 20, but my friend Hisako Kobayachi, a Japanese painter living in New York, represented me and sent me this photo where she is near one of my paintings. Denise Bibro has also selected for this first exhibition an ink on rice paper and the painting.

Soho, where my first New York exhibition was held nearly 30 years ago, now has only a few art galleries because the fashion stores have invaded all the old workshops and warehouses so characteristic of Soho. But it's nice to find some landmarks of artists who have stayed intact and so friendly like the small garden of the Cloister Café, on E 9th Street, or the Broome Street Bar on West Broadway.

I like also the attached photo that reveals the magic of the reflections of some monumental New York towers on top of each other.

Two Japanese friends, Hisako and Yoshi, had prepared for me a 2-day gallery tour, carefully selecting those that were of interest to all three of us. We walked in three neighborhoods: Chelsea, Upper East Side / Madison and finally the new hip neighborhood of Lower East Side! Exciting discussions with some gallerists, and of course between us on contemporary creation. Many ideas, some new names, comparisons with China, Tokyo and Hong Kong: New York continues to offer varied and interesting artistic works.

Gallery Denise Bibro

Au premier matin de ce séjour New-Yorkais de juin 2019 j’ai souhaité revisiter le Musée Guggenheim et une bonne surprise m’y attendait car le musée, pour célébrer le 60 ème anniversaire de sa création, a confié à 6 artistes contemporains le choix des oeuvres exposées parmi celles de ses propres collections d’œuvres modernes et contemporaines. Ces artistes, Cai-Guo-Quiang (un ami de Wang Yan Cheng), Paul Chan, Jenny Holzer, Julie Mehretu, Richard Prince et Carrie Mae Weems, apportent un regard inhabituel sur les années naissantes de l'abstraction américaine et étrangère, quel régal!

Au cours de ce séjour à New York j’ai repris contact avec la Galerie Denise Bibro, une belle galerie située à Chelsea depuis plus de 20 ans, après avoir été créée à Soho.  Denise me proposa de participer à l’exposition qui devait débuter la semaine suivante car elle apprécie particulièrement mon récent travail réalisé en Chine, notamment les encres sur papier de riz.

Devant retourner en France, je n’ai pas pu être présente à l’inauguration, le jeudi 20 juin, mais mon amie Hisako Kobayachi, peintre japonaise vivant à New York, m’a représenté et m’a envoyé cette  photo où elle se trouve près d’une de mes toiles.  Denise Bibro a retenu également pour cette première exposition une encre sur papier de riz et la peinture.

Cette exposition dont le titre est OUT OF THE CLOSET se tient du 20 juin au 27 juillet 2019.

Soho, où se situaient mes premières expositions New-Yorkaises il y a près de 30 ans, ne possède plus aujourd’hui que quelques galeries car les magasins de mode ont envahi tous les anciens ateliers et entrepôts si caractéristique de Soho. Mais il est agréable de retrouver quelques repères d’artistes qui sont restés intacts et si sympathiques comme le petit jardin du Cloister Café, sur la E 9th Street, ou le Broome Street Bar sur West Broadway.  J’aime aussi la photo ci-jointe qui révèle la magie des reflets de certaines tours monumentales de New York les unes sur les autres.  

Deux amis japonais, Hisako et Yoshi m’avaient préparé un parcours de 2 jours de visites de galeries, en sélectionnant avec soin celles qui devaient nous intéresser tous les trois. Nous avons ainsi déambulé dans 3 quartiers : Chelsea, Upper East Side/Madison et enfin le nouveau quartier branché de Lower East Side ! Discussions passionnantes avec certains galeristes, et bien sûr entre nous sur la création contemporaine. Beaucoup d’idées, quelques noms nouveaux, des comparaisons notamment avec la Chine, Tokyo et Hong Kong : New York continue à offrir des œuvres artistiques variées et intéressantes.

Galerie Denise Bibro

[p0pscuree]

Stills from “Sky Ladder: The Art of Cai Guo-Quiang”

This amazing work by the Chinese artist utilizes fireworks to commentate on smog and depleting environmental health of China. In “Elegy,” vibrant colors represent nature that once was, while dark blacks and blues flood the skies like bruises humanity has beaten into the ozone. Ending with a slime green explosion, the toxic-looking smoke lingers in the air, hyperbolizing current conditions to show what could be. Watch the event in it’s entirety here.

After controversial, publicized displays that were government sanctioned such as the Olympics, Guo-Quiang’s took time to focus on what he values in art, taking on his most personal project. A dream over two decades in the making, “Sky Ladder” documents the pitfalls and execution of a 1,650-foot-tall firecracker ladder to the sky. After failure at several public sites over the years, the pinnacle of Guo-Quiang’s career was carried out in secret a fishing village before dawn. It was “to connect the Earth to the universe,” the artist said in 1994 before his first unsuccessful attempt.

Dedicated to his grandmother, the climbing work is a whimsical site, and the journey just as incredible. Chronicling the artist’s works, the doc is full of fantastic firework displays and museum instillations just as gigantic. 

[tobaissykesfmp]

The other artist who, for me, uses fire in an interesting and innovative way is, Cai Guo-Quiang. I discovered him when researching online into artists who use fire and then watched his documentary “Sky Ladder” on Netflix. He uses pyrotechnics to create dramatic displays with deep personal and cultural themes that entrance his audience, whether its live or seen second hand. The time based elements of much of his work make it all the more powerful, a glimpse away and you’ve missed it. It creates an insider/outsider dynamic amongst the audience; those who witnessed it and those who didn’t.

[nw-bfa-blog]

Cai Guo-Qiang

Flow (Cypress)

2019 

I saw a bunch of these really sprawling works at the NGV recently by Cai Guo Quiang, that really struck a chord with me. He actually uses gunpowder to execute his drawings, as a homage to its Chinese invention. I like this quote in particular about his use of explosives, “What will happen when you ignite it? It’s an unknown what you will accomplish with the help of an invisible force. There’s a sense of destiny.” I agree with his sentiments, I actually love the unpredictability of it all and not being able to dictate the outcome, each piece is exactly how it needs to be.