How cai guoqiang built a 1,650foottall ladder out of. The art of cai guo qiang is the story of a unique artist at a pivotal moment in his life and times. Sundance documentary sky ladder puts chinese artist cai. For cai guoqiang, smoke, fire and explosions have made his reputation. Contemporary artist cai guoqiangs work spans east and west. Cai guoqiangs stunning pyrotechnic displays light up the sky. The art of cai guoqiang known for his spectacular pyrotechnic displays, chinese artist cai guoqiang creates his most ambitious project yet. October 14, 2016 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 guoqiang, which received its european premier at the london film festival, showcases cais exquisite gunpowder art, which he says explores eastern philosophy and. Connecting the earth to the rest of the universe was cai guo qiangs childhood dream.
Known for his spectacular pyrotechnic displays, chinese artist cai guoqiang creates his most ambitious project yet in this breathtaking documentary. The opening film of garage screen summer cinema is the russian premiere of kevin macdonalds documentary feature sky ladder. You season 2 binge recap you season 2 binge recap pin. Mao zedong my work is like a dialogue between me and unseen powers, like alchemy.
Some artists use paint, others use charcoal or clay. The process and execution of this installation is featured on the documentary, sky ladder. 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. 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. The stunning installation, by artist cai guoqiang, took. The california drought comes up unexpectedly in the fascinating documentary, sky ladder. Sky ladder chronicles his life and career in illuminating fashion, beginning with his troubled childhood. Many a contemporary artist has seen his career go up in smoke.
This film captures the work and life of cai guoqiang, whose frequent use of. It celebrates the art and ambition of a guoqiang, who paints images in the sky using colorful fireworks. With ian buruma, guoqiang cai, wenyou cai, wenhao cai. 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. The art of cai guoqiang is the story of a unique artist at a pivotal moment in his life and times. Cai guoqiang was born in 1957 in quanzhou city, fujian province, china, and lives and works in new york. The art of cai guoqiang, kevin macdonald the last king of scotland, one day in. Kevin macdonalds film about the celebrated chinese artist arrives oct. The art of cai guoqiang, oscar winner kevin macdonald aims to bring the sundance film festival a.
Artist cai guoqiangs preferred medium is fireworks. Director kevin macdonald the last king of scotland helps us understand the political and social forces that developed one of chinas major artists and his final success with his sky ladder project after many failures. The chinese artist tells us the true story behind sky ladder. 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.
An oscarwinning director tracks his most epic project yet in this breathtaking film. Cai guoqiang has had a dream of going to space ever since he saw the americans land on the moon. Sky ladder, a visionary, explosive event that he pulls off in his hometown in china after 20 years of failed attempts. Cai guoqiangs stunning sky ladder finally succeeds. The execution of this 500meter ladder was the subject of the netflix documentary sky ladder. Known for his spectacular pyrotechnic displays, chinese artist cai. 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. People cai guoqiang sets the art world aflame in new netflix documentary. Cai guoqiang is arguably modern chinas first international art star. Portrait of cai guoqiang in his east village, new york studio by. The art of cai guoqiang a slender but involving portrait of the chineseborn, internationally celebrated artist known for his dazzling pyrotechnic displays. He studied stage design at the shanghai drama institute from 1981 to 1985 and attended the institute for contemporary art. Cai guoqiang is a contemporary chinese artist renowned for his innovative works which incorporate gunpowder and controlled explosions. 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 premieres on netflix friday october 14, 2016. 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 tells us true story behind sky ladder. The film was released by netflix on october 14, 2016. 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. Artist cai guoqiang authentically portrayed in netflixs.
The art of cai guoqiang is a 2016 documentary film directed by kevin. The art of cai guoqiang 2016 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Cai guoqiang tells us true story behind sky ladder artnet news. Cai guoqiang, sky ladder, realized at huiyu island harbour, quanzhou, fujian, june 15, 2015 at 4. 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. The art of cai guoqiang by director kevin macdonald follows the projects ultimate success and struggles throughout. 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. In this ancient land, the ladder burned intensely for all of two minutes and twenty seconds, and then. Known for his spectacular pyrotechnic displays, chinese artist cai guoqiang creates his most ambitious project yet. The documentary told the story of cais rise to global success through interviews with the artist, family, friends, colleagues, and critics. The art of cai guoqiang, directed by oscarwinning filmmaker kevin macdonald. 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 that it might be selfdefeating.
In this regard, art critic ron rosenbaum claims that cai really wants to paint the heavens like michelangelo painted the sistine chapel ceiling. Contemporary artist cai guoqiangs work spans east and west, human and cosmic, the pl. The sky ladder is a 1,650foot ladder of fire climbing into the skies above artist cai guoqiangs hometown. Within two days there were 30 million views, cai told artnet news. There is an irresistible, herzogian flavor to kevin macdonalds new documentary, sky ladder. 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. The art of cai guoqiang details and credits metacritic. On imdb tv, you can catch hollywood hits and popular tv series at no cost. 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. Select any poster below to play the movie, totally free.
The art of cai guoqiang, released in 2016 by netflix. 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. If youre cai guoqiang, you continue to chase the ambitious dream that has eludedyou for 20 years sky ladder a 1,650 foot ladder of fire climbing into theskies, connecting heaven and earth. In this inspiring netflix documentary, we get to know the impressive oeuvre of guoq. After all, the frame of the film is whether or not cais attempt at creating a 500. Why is it important to make these violent explosions beautiful, he has asked.
Cai guoqiang 1,650ft ladder made out of fire cnn style. Subscribe now for monthly editions, awards season weeklies, access to the screen. A fiery, 80second art installation from earlier in the summer that appears to show a towering ladder made of fireworks is going viral. 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 guoqiang sets the art world aflame in new netflix documentary. Artist cai guoqiang takes center stage in netflix documentary sky ladder.
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