Sky ladder is the name of cais masterwork, a halfkilometrelong, vertical lattice of fire and smoke, 21 years in the making. Cai guo qiang s ambitious, enormous works are explored in his own words and those of his family. The theme of the evening revolved around aliens, related to cais ongoing project for extraterrestrials 1994, a series of 32 explosion events. 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. The art of cai guo qiang, released on netflix october 14, goes in a slightly different direction. 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. Cai guoqiang, sky ladder, realized at huiyu island harbour, quanzhou, fujian, june 15, 2015 at 4. Cai guoqiang was born in 1957 in quanzhou city, fujian province, china, and lives and works in new york. Cai guoqiang was born in 1957 in quanzhou, fujian province, china. Cai guo qiang is back, and with his most ambitious project to date. The sky ladder is a 1,650foot ladder of fire climbing into the skies above artist cai guoqiangs hometown. More than 4,500 visitors eagerly awaited the arrival of an outerspace alien to kickoff the opening of cai guoqiang.
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. There is an irresistible, herzogian flavor to kevin macdonalds new documentary, sky ladder. Creating ambitious signature pieces on the largest imaginable scales, cais. Cai guoqiangs stunning sky ladder finally succeeds.
Official facebook page of contemporary artist cai guoqiang. Mgm cotai also presents special screening of sky ladder. Why is it important to make these violent explosions beautiful, he has asked. In 2016 he was the subject of the netflix documentary, sky ladder. The book is published to coincide with his recent solo exhibition cai guo qiang.
Cai guoqiang is back, and with his most ambitious project to date. 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. Chinese artist cai guoqiang is internationally renowned for his spectacular explosion paintings and dizzying firework displays, but for more than two decades. 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. The art of cai guo qiang, directed by oscarwinning filmmaker kevin macdonald. 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. Along with telling his story of artistic success, macdonalds film specifically documents guoqiang as he tries. The opening film of garage screen summer cinema is the russian premiere of kevin macdonalds documentary feature sky ladder. The art of cai guo qiang premieres on netflix friday october 14, 2016. The art of cai guoqiang was shot by wes anderson collaborator robert yeoman, who captures the beautiful, cacophonous even terrifying explosions, and the more. Cai guoqiang chinese, born in 1957 guide to pictures of works by cai guoqiang in art museum sites and image archives worldwide.
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. Trace the rise of contemporary artist cai guoqiang from childhood. It celebrates the art and ambition of a guoqiang, who paints images in the sky using colorful fireworks. 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. Sharing his thoughts on the new documentary, cai commented. 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. 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. The event, free and open to the public, will be held october. 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. The art of cai guoqiang a slender but involving portrait of the chineseborn, internationally celebrated artist known for his dazzling pyrotechnic displays. 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. It will play the sundance film festival five more times on january 22nd at 8.
Sundance documentary sky ladder puts chinese artist cai guo. Cai guoqiang, chinese pyrotechnical artist known for his dramatic installations and for using gunpowder as a medium. 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. The art of cai guoqiang, directed by academy award. Artist cai guoqiang authentically portrayed in netflixs sky. Italian flowers that appear on renaissance works of art to depict the subtle connection. It will be a unique performance by artist cai guoqiang, who on february will execute. The national and international studio program at p.
Portrait of cai guo qiang in his east village, new york studio by alex john beck for artsy. Originally acquired by netflix at sundance, sky ladder. 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. Portrait of cai guoqiang in his east village, new york studio by alex john beck for artsy.
Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to. Sundance documentary sky ladder puts chinese artist cai. How cai guoqiang built a 1,650foottall ladder out of fire. 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. The art of cai guoqiang is as fleeting and elegant as the gunpowder events mounted by cai guoqiang. May 18, 2017 the opening film of garage screen summer cinema is the russian premiere of kevin macdonalds documentary feature sky ladder.
Cai guoqiangs ambitious, enormous works are explored in his own words and those of his family. 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. Now, go out in your community, visit galleries, museums, theaters, clubs. Oct 14, 2016 some of cai guoqiangs art exists for mere moments. While living in japan from 1986 to 1995, cai guoqiang began exploring the properties of gunpowder in his drawings. 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.
In june 2015, cai created the explosion event sky ladder off, on huiyu. This netflix documentary tracks the rise of chinese artist cai guoqiang. Creating ambitious signature pieces on the largest imaginable scales, cai s. 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. 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. With ian buruma, guoqiang cai, wenyou cai, wenhao cai. The art of cai guoqiang 2016 vm14 1h 19m criticallyacclaimed documentaries known for his spectacular pyrotechnic displays, chinese artist cai guoqiang creates his most ambitious project yet in this breathtaking documentary. The art of cai guoqiang mcdonalds experience comes to the fore, constructing a film that packs into a feature length running time an. His explosive art connects earth to sky and humanity to spirit. The book is published to coincide with his recent solo exhibition cai guoqiang.
As an adolescent, cai witnessed the social effects of the cultural revolution. 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. The art of cai guoqiang by director kevin macdonald follows the projects ultimate success and struggles throughout. Cai was born in quanzhou, a large port city in fujian province, southeastern china. He studied stage design at the shanghai drama institute from 1981 to 1985 and attended the institute for contemporary art. The art of cai guoqiang can be seen in select theaters and on netflix on october 14, 2016 and will have a european. The art of cai guoqiang, released on netflix october 14, goes in a slightly different direction. 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. As a result, cai guoqiang was exposed early on to western literature as well as traditional chinese art forms. 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 guoqiang is unlike anything ive ever seen, and definitely not the kind of art you could catch in any art district throughout the world. The documentary told the story of cai s rise to global success through interviews with the artist, family, friends, colleagues, and critics. 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.
With ian buruma, guo qiang cai, wenyou cai, wenhao cai. Kevin macdonald last king of scotland begins with a brief history of fireworks, discovered by chinese alchemists searching for the elixir of immortality. Connecting the earth to the rest of the universe was cai guo qiangs childhood dream. From chinese artist cai guoqiang for permanent display. Cai guoqiang 1,650ft ladder made out of fire cnn style. 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. Cai guoqiang is a contemporary chinese artist renowned for his innovative works which incorporate gunpowder and controlled explosions.
Aug, 2015 cai guo qiang, sky ladder, realized at huiyu island harbour, quanzhou, fujian, june 15, 2015 at 4. Aug 12, 2015 cai guoqiang sends flaming sky ladder soaring 500 meters in the air all images courtesy of cai studio. The art of cai guoqiang premieres on netflix friday october 14, 2016. Youve already watched a documentary, so youre on the right track. 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. 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 sky ladder is a 1,650foot ladder of fire climbing into the skies above artist cai guo qiang s hometown. The art of cai guoqiang which premiered at the sundance film festival. If youre cai guoqiang, you continue to chase the ambitious dream that has eluded you for 20 yearssky laddera 1,650 foot ladder of fire climbing into the skies, connecting heaven and earth. The string of fireworks is carrying up by a balloon. The art of cai guoqiang by director kevin macdonald follows the projects ultimate success and. Artist cai guoqiang authentically portrayed in netflixs. Mar 05, 2017 connecting the earth to the rest of the universe was cai guo qiangs childhood dream. Cai guo qiang was born in 1957 in quanzhou city, fujian province, china, and lives and works in new york.
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. Oct 14, 2016 a new documentary film on the artist, sky ladder. Cai guoqiang tells us true story behind sky ladder. The art of cai guoqiang is the story of a unique artist at a pivotal moment in his life and times.
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 encompasses a little bit of all of the above. 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. Known for his spectacular pyrotechnic artwork displays, he tackles his most ambitious project yet, sky ladder. Mgm chairmans collection acquires new gunpowder artworks. His father, cai ruiqin, was a calligrapher and traditional painter who worked in a bookstore. Cai guoqiangs stunning sky ladder finally succeeds artnet. 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.
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