When he finally realised it in 2015 after 20 years and three failed attempts, a majestic 500metre ladder of gold light ascended into the night sky over the huiyu island harbour, not far from cais hometown in fujian province. Cai guo qiang is back, and with his most ambitious project to date. Pyrotechnic savant cai guoqiang unpacks the metaphysical questions at the heart of his explosive oeuvre for a new film series by fine art visual search engine art. Along with telling his story of artistic success, macdonalds film specifically documents guoqiang as he tries. The sky ladder is a 1,650foot ladder of fire climbing into the skies above artist cai guo qiang s hometown. His father, cai ruiqin, was a calligrapher and traditional painter who worked in a bookstore. A portrait of an ambitious and often personally conflicted environmental artist, sky ladder has a lot in common with the likes of rivers and tides and the maysles brothers and charlotte zwerin s christo films, in that it creates a permanent. Connecting the earth to the rest of the universe was cai guo qiangs childhood dream. The opening film of garage screen summer cinema is the russian premiere of kevin macdonalds documentary feature sky ladder. Official facebook page of contemporary artist cai guoqiang. Cai guoqiang chinese, born in 1957 guide to pictures of works by cai guoqiang in art museum sites and image archives worldwide. Cai was born in quanzhou, a large port city in fujian province, southeastern china. The art of cai guoqiangnetflix after several attempts spanning decades and continents, artist cai guoqiang embarked once again to construct a near 1,700 foot firework ladder into the sky. He studied stage design at the shanghai drama institute from 1981 to 1985 and attended the institute for contemporary art.
With ian buruma, guoqiang cai, wenyou cai, wenhao cai. It will be a unique performance by artist cai guoqiang, who on february will execute. Italian flowers that appear on renaissance works of art to depict the subtle connection. In june 2015, cai created the explosion event sky ladder off, on huiyu. The art of cai guoqiang which premiered at the sundance film festival.
Originally acquired by netflix at sundance, sky ladder. The story is told both through cai guoqiangs own words, as well as family, friends and observers of his craft, spanning from the artists childhood in maos china. Oct 21, 2016 after several attempts spanning decades and continents, artist cai guoqiang embarked once again to construct a near 1,700 foot firework ladder into the sky. Cai guoqiangs ambitious, enormous works are explored in his own words and those of his family. Cai guoqiangs stunning sky ladder finally succeeds artnet. Mgm chairmans collection acquires new gunpowder artworks.
Join cai as he discusses his book ladder to the sky with art historian and awesome extraordinaire lesley ma at the new york public library. The art of cai guoqiang was shot by wes anderson collaborator robert yeoman, who captures the beautiful, cacophonous even terrifying explosions, and the more. His explosive art connects earth to sky and humanity to spirit. Cai guoqiang, sky ladder, realized at huiyu island harbour, quanzhou, fujian, june 15, 2015 at 4. Artist cai guoqiang authentically portrayed in netflixs. It will play the sundance film festival five more times on january 22nd at 8. Oct 15, 2012 join cai as he discusses his book ladder to the sky with art historian and awesome extraordinaire lesley ma at the new york public library. The launch of chinese artist cai guoqiangs first west coast exhibition went off with a bang saturday night as 40,000 rockets exploded in the. Cai guoqiang is a contemporary chinese artist renowned for his innovative works which incorporate gunpowder and controlled explosions.
The art of cai guoqiang is unlike anything ive ever seen, and definitely not the kind of art you could catch in any art district throughout the world. Cai guoqiang was born in 1957 in quanzhou city, fujian province, china, and lives and works in new york. While living in japan from 1986 to 1995, cai guoqiang began exploring the properties of gunpowder in his drawings. The art of cai guoqiang a slender but involving portrait of the chineseborn, internationally celebrated artist known for his dazzling pyrotechnic displays.
The sky ladder is a 1,650foot ladder of fire climbing into the skies above artist cai guoqiangs hometown. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to. The execution of this 500meter ladder was the subject of the netflix documentary sky ladder. A unique explosion event by artist cai guoqiang leading to. Cais fathera painter, historian, and bookstore ownerwas somewhat ambivalent toward mao zedong and the new chinese society that was emerging after the successful communist. The art of cai guoqiang can be seen in select theaters and on netflix on october 14, 2016 and will have a european. How cai guoqiang built a 1,650foottall ladder out of fire. The art of cai guoqiang premieres on netflix friday october 14, 2016. The art of cai guoqiang mcdonalds experience comes to the fore, constructing a film that packs into a feature length running time an impactful and engaging look at this fine. The art of cai guoqiang, kevin macdonald the last king of scotland, one day in september tracks the creation of an ambitious project by an artist whos had plenty of them. There is an irresistible, herzogian flavor to kevin macdonalds new documentary, sky ladder. The art of cai guoqiang 2016 which portrays the life and practice of contemporary chinese artist cai guoqiang, known for his spectacular installations and the use of gunpowder cai guoqiang b.
Cai guo qiang s ambitious, enormous works are explored in his own words and those of his family. As an adolescent, cai witnessed the social effects of the cultural revolution. Sharing his thoughts on the new documentary, cai commented. The event, free and open to the public, will be held october. Known for his spectacular pyrotechnic artwork displays, he tackles his most ambitious project yet, sky ladder. Cai guoqiang 1,650ft ladder made out of fire cnn style. It celebrates the art and ambition of a guoqiang, who paints images in the sky using colorful fireworks. Cai guoqiang tells us true story behind sky ladder.
Mgm cotai also presents special screening of sky ladder. The national and international studio program at p. The book is published to coincide with his recent solo exhibition cai guo qiang. The art of cai guoqiang, released on netflix october 14, goes in a slightly different direction. The book is published to coincide with his recent solo exhibition cai guoqiang. The film was coproduced by wendi deng as well as idg capital global chairman xiong xiaoge and premiered in the world documentary category at sundance in 2016. Chinese artist cai guoqiang is internationally renowned for his spectacular explosion paintings and dizzying firework displays, but for more than two decades. The art of cai guoqiang by director kevin macdonald follows the projects ultimate success and struggles throughout. The documentary told the story of cai s rise to global success through interviews with the artist, family, friends, colleagues, and critics. Trace the rise of contemporary artist cai guo qiang from childhood in maos china to global art world superstar, and join his quest to realize his lifelong obsession. Trace the rise of contemporary artist cai guoqiang from childhood. 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. Artist cai guoqiang authentically portrayed in netflixs sky. Mar 05, 2017 connecting the earth to the rest of the universe was cai guo qiangs childhood dream.
Aug 12, 2015 cai guoqiang sends flaming sky ladder soaring 500 meters in the air all images courtesy of cai studio. Cais use of gunpowder has become central to his practice, leading to his experimentation with explosives and the development of his signature ignition events. The art of cai guo qiang, released on netflix october 14, goes in a slightly different direction. Cai guoqiang is back, and with his most ambitious project to date. May 18, 2017 the opening film of garage screen summer cinema is the russian premiere of kevin macdonalds documentary feature sky ladder. Its also the title of a documentary about cais life and oeuvre, which premiered at the sundance film festival this january and will receive a wider release on netflix at the end of the month. Why is it important to make these violent explosions beautiful, he has asked. Creating ambitious signature pieces on the largest imaginable scales, cai s.
Trace the rise of contemporary artist cai guoqiang from childhood in maos china to global art world superstar, and join his quest to realize his lifelong obsession. The string of fireworks is carrying up by a balloon. Cai guo qiang was born in 1957 in quanzhou city, fujian province, china, and lives and works in new york. The art of cai guoqiang kevin macdonalds documentary, which has premiered at sundance, draws an emotional line from the chinese artists traumatic childhood to the inexhaustible. The art of cai guoqiang is as fleeting and elegant as the gunpowder events mounted by cai guoqiang. The art of cai guoqiang is the story of a unique artist at a pivotal moment in his life and times.
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. Sky ladder is the name of cais masterwork, a halfkilometrelong, vertical lattice of fire and smoke, 21 years in the making. Youve already watched a documentary, so youre on the right track. More than 4,500 visitors eagerly awaited the arrival of an outerspace alien to kickoff the opening of cai guoqiang. The art of cai guo qiang, directed by oscarwinning filmmaker kevin macdonald. As a result, cai guoqiang was exposed early on to western literature as well as traditional chinese art forms. Creating ambitious signature pieces on the largest imaginable scales, cais. Cai guoqiangs exhibition is called sky ladder and includes three gunpowder paintings, a crop circle installation hanging from the ceiling, and videos of his previous work around the world. The art of cai guoqiang encompasses a little bit of all of the above. Portrait of cai guo qiang in his east village, new york studio by alex john beck for artsy. Cai guoqiang, chinese pyrotechnical artist known for his dramatic installations and for using gunpowder as a medium. The art of cai guoqiang, directed by academy award. Cai guoqiang was born in 1957 in quanzhou, fujian province, china. The art of cai guoqiang by director kevin macdonald follows the projects ultimate success and.
Oct 14, 2016 a new documentary film on the artist, sky ladder. 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. The art of cai guoqiang mcdonalds experience comes to the fore, constructing a film that packs into a feature length running time an. Sundance documentary sky ladder puts chinese artist cai guo. The art of cai guoqiang 2016 which portrays the life and practice of contemporary chinese artist cai guoqiang, known for his spectacular installations and the use of gunpowder. Christmas in a day 20 marley 2012 life in a day 2011 my enemys enemy 2007 touching the void 2003 one day in september 1999 discussion guide sky ladder. The theme of the evening revolved around aliens, related to cais ongoing project for extraterrestrials 1994, a series of 32 explosion events. Now, go out in your community, visit galleries, museums, theaters, clubs. The art of cai guo qiang premieres on netflix friday october 14, 2016. The art of cai guo qiang was shot by wes anderson collaborator robert yeoman, who captures the beautiful, cacophonous even terrifying explosions, and the more. Cai guoqiangs stunning sky ladder finally succeeds. Aug 12, 2015 titled sky ladder, the piece burned for approxmiately 2 minutes and 30 seconds above the harbor and was the fourth and final attempt to realize the performance. Kevin macdonald last king of scotland begins with a brief history of fireworks, discovered by chinese alchemists searching for the elixir of immortality. 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 ladder a firework display that would ascend 1,650 feet into the air.
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