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 art of cai guoqiang a slender but involving portrait of the chineseborn, internationally celebrated artist known for his dazzling pyrotechnic displays. Overall, sky ladder works as a very complete profile on an interesting, innovative artist, without leaving his human size unexplored and as a very small window to peek into the massive landscape of modern china and specifically its art, which has produced figures as wellknown as zhang yimou, ai weiwei and yes, cai guoqiang. The art of cai guoqiang is a 2016 documentary film directed by kevin macdonald about the life and work of cai guoqiang known for his artwork with the help of gunpowder. For cai guo qiang, smoke, fire and explosions have made his reputation. Chinas most explosive artist has built a 1,650ft tall ladder made of fire. The art of cai guoqiang, directed by kevin macdonald the last king of scotland, touching the void, academy awardwinner one day in september, was released by netflix today. The art of cai guo qiang that it might be selfdefeating. He studied stage design at the shanghai drama institute from 1981 to 1985 and attended the institute for contemporary art. Cai guoqiang tells us true story behind sky ladder. The sky ladder is a 1,650foot ladder of fire climbing into the skies above artist cai guoqiangs hometown. The art of cai guoqiang, kevin macdonald the last king of scotland, one day in. See more ideas about cai guo qiang, installation art and art.
Oct 10, 2016 cai guo qiang s stunning pyrotechnic displays light up the sky. Artist cai guoqiang authentically portrayed in netflixs. 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. The art of cai guoqiang is the story of a unique artist at a pivotal moment in his life and times. The national and international studio program at p. Sundance documentary sky ladder puts chinese artist cai guo. The art of cai guoqiang his experience comes to the fore, constructing a film that packs into a feature length running time an impactful and engaging look at this fine subject. 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. Oct 14, 2016 overall, sky ladder works as a very complete profile on an interesting, innovative artist, without leaving his human size unexplored and as a very small window to peek into the massive landscape of modern china and specifically its art, which has produced figures as wellknown as zhang yimou, ai weiwei and yes, cai guo qiang. The art of cai guoqiang premieres on netflix friday october 14, 2016. It celebrates the art and ambition of a guoqiang, who paints images in the sky using colorful fireworks. 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. Oct 14, 2016 there is an irresistible, herzogian flavor to kevin macdonalds new documentary, sky ladder. After all, the frame of the film is whether or not cais attempt at creating a 500.
The art of cai guo qiang premieres on netflix friday october 14, 2016. The art of cai guoqiang, directed by oscarwinning filmmaker kevin macdonald. This all leads up to his pursuit of his lifelong obsession of completing the sky ladder, as many obstacles have stood in his way over the years. Many a contemporary artist has seen his career go up in smoke. The opening film of garage screen summer cinema is the russian premiere of kevin macdonalds documentary feature sky ladder. Cai guoqiangs stunning pyrotechnic displays light up the sky. There is an irresistible, herzogian flavor to kevin macdonalds new documentary, sky ladder. On mar 1, 2016, netflix announced that it had acquired the film for worldwide distribution via its streaming service.
Cai guoqiang was born in 1957 in quanzhou city, fujian province, china, and lives and works in new york. The art of cai guoqiang follows the continuing ascent of this chineseborn, new yorkbased artist. Cai guoqiang is a contemporary chinese artist renowned for his innovative works which incorporate gunpowder and controlled explosions. The art of cai guo qiang may appear to be modest by comparison, yet it may. People cai guoqiang sets the art world aflame in new netflix documentary. The art of cai guoqiang makes its introduction with cais search for the perfect type of firework to be used to create this mystical ladder from the land into the sky. In his latest feature documentary, oscarwinning filmmaker kevin macdonald one day in september, the last king of scotland has unfettered access to worldrenowned contemporary artist, cai guoqiang. The art of cai guo qiang 2016 is available on netflix thailand. Artist cai guoqiang takes center stage in netflix documentary sky ladder. Today were giving away a postcard of the iconic sky ladder display, signed by cai guoqiang himself.
The art of cai guoqiang known for his spectacular pyrotechnic displays, chinese artist cai guoqiang creates his most ambitious project yet. The art of cai guoqiang, which received its european premier at the london film festival, showcases cais exquisite gunpowder art, which he says explores eastern philosophy and. Cai guoqiangs stunning sky ladder finally succeeds artnet. His father, cai ruiqin, was a calligrapher and traditional painter who worked in a bookstore. The art of cai guo qiang known for his spectacular pyrotechnic displays, chinese artist cai guo qiang creates his most ambitious project yet. 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. Sky ladder, a visionary, explosive event that he pulls off in his hometown in china after 20 years of failed attempts. Cai guoqiang tells us true story behind sky ladder artnet news. The california drought comes up unexpectedly in the fascinating documentary, sky ladder.
Jan 22, 2016 kevin macdonalds documentary sky ladder. The execution of this 500meter ladder was the subject of the netflix documentary sky ladder. The art of cai guoqiang by director kevin macdonald follows the projects ultimate success and struggles throughout. The art of cai guoqiang is the story of a unique artist at a. Oct 14, 2016 some of cai guoqiangs art exists for mere moments. Mar 05, 2017 connecting the earth to the rest of the universe was cai guo qiangs childhood dream. Cai guoqiang sets the art world aflame in new netflix documentary. Contemporary artist cai guoqiangs work spans east and west, human and cosmic, the pl. 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 art of cai guoqiang, oscar winner kevin macdonald aims to bring the sundance film festival a. Oct 14, 2016 people cai guo qiang sets the art world aflame in new netflix documentary. The art of cai guoqiang, which received its european premier at the london film festival, showcases cai s exquisite gunpowder art, which he says explores eastern philosophy and.
It took 21 years, but chinese artist cai guoqiang has finally brought to life his dramatic sky ladder, an explosive artwork in which a flaming ladder seems to miraculously float above the earth. In this regard, art critic ron rosenbaum claims that cai really wants to paint the heavens like michelangelo painted the sistine chapel ceiling. The art of cai guoqiang, oscar winner kevin macdonald aims to bring the sundance film festival a very upclose and international look at the explosiv. Oct 14, 2016 artist cai guo qiang takes center stage in netflix documentary sky ladder. A fiery, 80second art installation from earlier in the summer that appears to show a towering ladder made of fireworks is going viral. Cai guo qiang was born in 1957 in quanzhou, fujian province, china. Artist cai guoqiang authentically portrayed in netflixs sky. The art of cai guo qiang his experience comes to the fore, constructing a film that packs into a feature length running time an impactful and engaging look at this fine subject. The film opens with cai reflecting on the history of gunpowder, one of. His status as a key figure on the new york art scene where he has worked and lived since the mid 90s was cemented in 2008, when the guggenheim hosted a major retrospective of his work. Told through the artists own words and those of family, friends, colleagues, and critics, sky ladder traces cai.
Known for his spectacular pyrotechnic displays, chinese artist cai. With ian buruma, guoqiang cai, wenyou cai, wenhao cai. 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. And macdonald one day in september, touching the void, the last king of scotland was granted unrestricted access to the artist at. Sundance documentary sky ladder puts chinese artist cai. The documentary told the story of cais rise to global success through interviews with the artist, family, friends, colleagues, and critics.
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 art of cai guo qiang, released in 2016 by netflix. For cai guoqiang, smoke, fire and explosions have made his reputation. An oscarwinning director tracks his most epic project yet in this breathtaking film. Aug, 2015 it took 21 years, but chinese artist cai guo qiang has finally brought to life his dramatic sky ladder, an explosive artwork in which a flaming ladder seems to miraculously float above the earth. The art of cai guo qiang, which received its european premier at the london film festival, showcases cai s exquisite gunpowder art, which he says explores eastern philosophy and. Jan 22, 2016 after tackling such subjects as epic in size as joe simpson and simon yates harrowing climb of the andes in touching the void and marley, a biography of jamaicas favorite son that felt as if it carried the weight of the entire country, sky ladder. Seiji toyonaga courtesy hiroshima city museum of contemporary art mamac nice. Film themes cai guoqiangs long and varied career as an artist of explosive intent.
The art of cai guoqiang is receiving its world premiere at the sundance. Cai guoqiang 1,650ft ladder made out of fire cnn style. The art of cai guoqiang, released in 2016 by netflix. Portrait of cai guoqiang in his east village, new york studio by. 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. Sky ladder chronicles his life and career in illuminating fashion, beginning with his troubled childhood. Portrait of cai guo qiang in his east village, new york studio by alex john beck for artsy. 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 follows the continuing ascent of this chineseborn, new yorkbased artist as he works in different mediums for different. The process and execution of this installation is featured on the documentary, sky ladder. The stunning installation, by artist cai guoqiang, took. Cai guoqiangs stunning sky ladder finally succeeds. 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, which received its european premier at the london film. How cai guoqiang built a 1,650foottall ladder out of. This film captures the work and life of cai guoqiang, whose frequent use of gunpowder serves as both an. Cai guoqiang is arguably modern chinas first international art star. As a result, cai guo qiang was exposed early on to western literature as well as traditional chinese art forms. Oscarwinning filmmaker kevin macdonald one day in september, the. Why is it important to make these violent explosions beautiful, he has asked. Oct 21, 2016 artist cai guoqiang photo courtesy of sky ladder.
Oct 19, 2016 the california drought comes up unexpectedly in the fascinating documentary, sky ladder. Cai guoqiangs ambitious, enormous works are explored in his own words and those of his family. Originally acquired by netflix at sundance, sky ladder. The art of cai guoqiang can be seen in select theaters and on netflix on october 14, 2016 and will have a european premiere next week.
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