Cai Guo-Qiang is a Chinese artist with explosive talent, and I mean that in the most literal way since he actually incorporates live gunpowder into his work.
Cai's unique gunpowder art produces surreal, majestic displays that often include themes relating to Eastern philosophy and contemporary social issues.
Much of his work is displayed in various prominent galleries around the world, yet some are primarily created to be witnessed live as a human viewing experience, leaving nothing behind but the beautiful memories amidst the swirling smoke and debris.
As a young man growing up during the Cultural Revolution of China, he was often exposed to explosions both good and bad.
His experiences in his youth led him to experiment with explosive compounds in a controlled environment, and thus his visceral brand of artistic expression was born.
His work entitled 'Projects for Extraterrestrials' consisted of large, lit swaths of gunpowder trails stretched over landscapes and building surfaces.
In 2016, Cai's most ambitious project to date, 'Sky Ladder,' was covered by Netflix in an beautifully intimate documentary film.
The Sky Ladder project spanned over twenty years, and though he had a few unsuccessful attempts, Cai never gave up until he finally achieved his extraordinary goal of suspending a double-stranded firework ladder from a hot air balloon for a jaw dropping spectacle.
He now lives in New York and continues to push the boundaries of artistic expression, though not always with deadly explosives.
We can't wait to see what incredible innovations he has in mind for the future. Keep up with his work on his official website.
I do not own any of the images shown in this blog, all image rights are retained by their original owners.
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