Cai Guo-Qiang

Snow Lotus No. 1

€5,500

Edition of 5084.4 (H) × 75.3 (W) cmFrame included

Sold out

Love this work?

Subscribe to get notified about any cancellations and early access on next releases.

Five years later, Cai Guo-Qiang returns with explosive reflections on love and resilience.

The inspiration for Cai’s gunpowder paintings on glass and mirror came from childhood recollections of traditional Chinese mirror paintings. Each one traps an explosion of pigment between two fragile planes – a balancing act of control and chaos.

Capturing the layered and illusory quality of the original artwork presented a new challenge for printmakers at Make-Ready in London. Snow Lotus No. 1 was disassembled for the first time since its creation and documented in two parts. This formed the basis of a layered printing process – allowing the traces of gunpowder left by each explosion, and their effect when combined, to be replicated perfectly.

Go deeper

Cai Guo-Qiang2 collaborationsCai Guo-Qiang is a living icon, an Old Master of our time. His pioneering firework events and explosion paintings have brought Cai (and gunpowder) to the summit of the contemporary art world. Cai first experimented with explosives in the 1980s as a young Chinese artist living in Japan. He merged his skill as a painter with the lawless mark of explosion by firing rockets at his canvases and lighting gunpowder from underneath them – a technique he still uses today. Invented in China by ancient alchemists, gunpowder is a symbol of both celebration and destruction. It's an integral part of traditions in Chinese celebration but also evokes the violence of The Cultural Revolution that Cai grew up in. Beyond history, Cai has a spiritual connection to gunpowder: "I do get somewhat nervous, but in the moment of ignition, it seems to go beyond nerves, becoming an energy that is sudden, spiritual and also cosmic. A feeling of the invisible world is sparked within that instant."

Who else should know about this work?

Help us spread the word

Reviews from Avant collectors

communication from start to finish has been very informative, quick and helpful. I am happy with the professional way in which the piece has been packaged and shipped, protected to a high degree. Thank you to everyone involved.
Review of Something Forbidden (Blue)
Always an amazing service from the team at Avant Art! Keep up the great work and collaborations.
Review of Study_for_Null_Portrait of someone#166
It looks great and is one of our favorite pieces to add to our collection. We think the printing looks fantastic!
Review of Scaffold
First of all, the prints was everything we expected. What was a pleasant surprise was the impeccably packaged shipment of the work which went above and beyond anything we would have expected. Great communication and service.
Review of Fuzz Gathering
very impressive package: gloves, certificate etc.
Review of Actual Size
my third piece from you guys, cant fault you in anyway 10/10
Review of Actual Size
Such a great and perfect experience working with Avant Arte. I am forever grateful for your kindness and communication throughout this entire process. Art was delivered perfectly, beautifully, and on-time, as promised. Love your company!
Review of Actual Size
As a longtime buyer of prints and editions I am extremely impressed with my first Avant Arte experience. The attention to quality, detail, packaging and the customer experience are among the best Ive seen.
Review of Untitled

Discover more print editions on Avant Arte

See all

Available

Trudy BensonRed Sky€459

Available

Katherine BradfordSwing Over Pool€850

Draw

Ai WeiweiF.U.C.K. (Red)€8,250Closing on 24 September

Draw

Andy WarholBrillo Box Collectable (Lifesize)€2,500Closing in 00d 00h 00m