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. The event, free and open to the public, will be held october 30, 2012. Without connecting all the dots macdonalds film skips ahead to show cai as an art world titan creating the fireworks displays he calls explosive. The art of cai guoqiang is the story of a unique artist at a. 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. The book is published to coincide with his recent solo exhibition cai guoqiang. With ian buruma, guo qiang cai, wenyou cai, wenhao cai. 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. Sky ladder, a visionary, explosive event that he pulls off in his hometown in china after 20 years of failed attempts. Oct 21, 2016 artist cai guoqiang photo courtesy of sky ladder.
The art of cai guoqiang on your tv or mobile device at home. With ian buruma, guoqiang cai, wenyou cai, wenhao cai. Cai guoqiang tells us true story behind sky ladder. Jan 22, 2016 the spectacular visual displays of the chineseborn artist cai guoqiang lend an undeniably cinematic razzledazzle to sky ladder. Kevin macdonald last king of scotland begins with a brief history of fireworks, discovered by chinese alchemists searching for the elixir of immortality. Film summary just before dawn on june 15, 2015, after two decades of dreaming, planning, and three failed attempts at various points around the globe, the world renowned artist cai guoqiang, famous for his site specific explosion and.
Sundance documentary sky ladder puts chinese artist cai guo. The art of cai guoqiang is as fleeting and elegant as the gunpowder events mounted by cai guoqiang. Oscarwinning filmmaker kevin macdonald chronicles the making of the ripacrossthesky fireworks of worldrenowned contemporary artist cai guoqiang. For cai guo qiang, smoke, fire and explosions have made his reputation. The art of cai guoqiang follows the continuing ascent of this chineseborn, new yorkbased artist as he works in different mediums for different. This project is the culmination of a 20 year dream a monumental but ephemeral work imagined by the chinese artist cai guoqiang, which director kevin macdonald and producer wendy deng document in sky ladder. The documentary told the story of cai s rise to global success through interviews with the artist, family, friends, colleagues, and critics. Trace the rise of contemporary artist cai guoqiang from childhood in maos china to. In this stopmotion short film, a bird raised by mice begins to question where she belongs and sets off on a daring journey of selfdiscovery. 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. Chinese artist cai guoqiang is internationally renowned for his spectacular explosion paintings and dizzying firework displays, but for more than two decades. After 30 years of making art from fire, explosives artist cai guoqiangs story comes to netflix in the new film, sky ladder. The spectacular visual displays of the chineseborn artist cai guoqiang lend an undeniably cinematic razzledazzle to sky ladder. Oct 14, 2016 there is an irresistible, herzogian flavor to kevin macdonalds new documentary, sky ladder.
There is an irresistible, herzogian flavor to kevin macdonalds new documentary, sky ladder. Mar 01, 2016 netflix is in final negotiations to acquire worldwide streaming rights to the sundance documentary sky ladder, about celebrated chinese artist cai guoqiang, variety has learned. This ladder made of fireworks is taller than any building in america. The documentary told the story of cais rise to global success through interviews with the artist, family, friends, colleagues, and critics. Creating ambitious signature pieces on the largest imaginable scales, cai s. Artist cai guoqiang authentically portrayed in netflixs. The documentary centers around sky ladder, the artists magnum opus that also serves as the films title, and traces several peripatetic years in the life of cai guoqiang. Tracking down a streaming service to buy, rent, download, or watch the kevin macdonalddirected movie via. 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. Creating ambitious signature pieces on the largest imaginable scales, cais. Artist cai guoqiang authentically portrayed in netflixs sky. 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.
The art of cai guo qiang, directed by oscarwinning filmmaker kevin macdonald. Oct 14, 2016 the documentary centers around sky ladder, the artists magnum opus that also serves as the films title, and traces several peripatetic years in the life of cai guoqiang. 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. Oct 14, 2016 some of cai guoqiangs art exists for mere moments. Jan 22, 2016 kevin macdonalds documentary sky ladder. Next month, netflix will be releasing a new documentary film titled sky ladder. Cai guoqiangs stunning pyrotechnic displays light up the sky. 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, directed by oscarwinning filmmaker kevin macdonald. The art of cai guoqiang a slender but involving portrait of the chineseborn, internationally celebrated artist known for his dazzling pyrotechnic displays. Along with telling his story of artistic success, macdonalds film specifically documents guoqiang as he tries. Directed by oscar winner kevin macdonald, this aweinspiring film received a. Academy awardwinning filmmaker kevin macdonalds the last king of scotland.
The film takes a look at a revolutionary new contemporary artist who creates art that is beautiful, explosive, and can only be experienced in a singular moment. How cai guoqiang built a 1,650foottall ladder out of. The art of cai guoqiang follows the continuing ascent of this chineseborn, new yorkbased artist. The art of cai guo qiang, released on netflix october 14, goes in a slightly different direction. The art of cai guo qiang may appear to be modest by comparison, yet it may. Sky ladder, a fireworks installation by cai guoqiang, is. Mar 05, 2017 connecting the earth to the rest of the universe was cai guo qiangs childhood dream. This portrait of an artists process fuses family and history to cais spectacularly expressive art of gunpowder pyrotechnics.
Wendi deng murdoch on rupert, ivanka trump and her new film. 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. Sundance documentary sky ladder puts chinese artist cai. For cai guoqiang, smoke, fire and explosions have made his reputation. 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. An oscarwinning director tracks his most epic project yet in this breathtaking film. Sky ladder is the name of cais masterwork, a halfkilometrelong, vertical lattice of fire and smoke, 21 years in the making. 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. This film captures the work and life of cai guoqiang, whose frequent use of gunpowder serves as both an ancestral homage and an. The narrative of the film isnt entirely dedicated to sky ladder but it remains a. Aug 12, 2015 this ladder made of fireworks is taller than any building in america. 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. The sky ladder is a 1,650foot ladder of fire climbing into the skies above artist cai guo qiang s hometown.
The execution of this 500meter ladder was the subject of the netflix documentary 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. Netflix is in final negotiations to acquire worldwide streaming rights to the sundance documentary sky ladder, about celebrated chinese artist cai guoqiang, variety has learned. 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 art of cai guoqiang is an indepth portrait of a contemporary creative icon with an everpresent socialpolitical consciousness, a man whose captivating works are visually imposing with implications just as grandiose. 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.
Oct 10, 2016 cai guo qiang s stunning pyrotechnic displays light up the sky. Oct 10, 2016 after 30 years of making art from fire, explosives artist cai guoqiangs story comes to netflix in the new film, sky ladder. The art of cai guoqiang by director kevin macdonald follows the projects ultimate success and struggles throughout. Originally acquired by netflix at sundance, sky ladder.
The project has been canceled or delayed multiple times over two decades, and the film follows as he again tries to build this burning ladder that. Oct 14, 2016 a new documentary film on the artist, sky ladder. Cai guoqiang is a contemporary chinese artist renowned for his innovative works which incorporate gunpowder and controlled explosions. We and our partners use your information collected through cookies and similar technologies to improve your experience on our site. Known for his spectacular pyrotechnic displays, chinese artist cai guoqiang creates his most ambitious project yet in this breathtaking documentary. 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. 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. It celebrates the art and ambition of a guoqiang, who paints images in the sky using colorful fireworks.
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. The first fireworks were burning pieces of bamboo, which exploded because they. The sky ladder is a 1,650foot ladder of fire climbing into the skies above artist cai guoqiangs hometown. 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. The film was released by netflix on october 14, 2016. The art of cai guoqiang, released on netflix october 14, goes in a slightly different direction. Known for his spectacular pyrotechnic displays, chinese artist cai guoqiang creates his most ambitious project yet. The film takes a look at a revolutionary new contemporary artist who creates art that is. Connecting the earth to the rest of the universe was cai guo qiangs childhood dream.
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