An Evening with Cai Guo-Qiang

I attended an evening with Cai Guo-Qiang on April 3. I was so fascinated by his presentation. The auditorium was packed with people listening to Guo-Qiang through the translator. He showed his works through a Powerpoint in pictures. Guo-Qiang stressed that he adapts certain characteristics that continue through many different pieces of his work. For example, arrows are involved in most of his large scale masterpieces. He associates his art with old ancient stories. He told a story titled “Borrowing Your Enemy’s Arrows” This story involved three kingdoms in Asia, during battle China sent an empty boat first so the opposing kingdom used its strongest, deadliest weapons to shoot down the boat. In this sense the boat looks injured but Guo-Qiang  says “it actually won something.” There is also a small China flag in the back that you can see in the picture to show the pride of the country. Guo-Qiang often uses boats in his work because he grew up in a port city. He refers to himself as a boat as he travels the world.

            He creates huge gallery areas. In one he covered with mosquito net and put a hot tub in the middle for people to look at the sculptures. He said at first people were hesitant to get in the hot tub but when he told visitors that he put medicine in the hot tub that would improve one’s health and make one more beautiful, people began to get into the hot tub more.

            Another large scale project that he explored was an explosion project where he employed German and Japanese scientists to use gunpowder. From the explosion, he created many different drawing of gunpowder designs. Another interactive gallery that he had was his own gallery. He lived and slept in the gallery he put his ideas on the wall and let visitors come in and put in their input.

            I was very impressed by the amount of thought that was put into each one of his masterpieces. Every gallery had a story behind it and included some Asian culture in its background. This evening was inspirational and I am really happy I was able to attend it.