Cai Guo-Qiang

Snow Lotus No. 1

€5,500

Edition of 50

Frame included

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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.

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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."

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Reviews from Avant collectors

Extremely happy with the artwork but also the online insight to the production and interview with the artist. The shipping and packaging are very considered and I look forward to seeing ( & buying ) other pieces
Review of Guardian
simple perfection. just keep it up!
Review of Portrait of Francis Bacon
The print is beautifully made, and I love it.
Review of Portrait of Maya #10
excellent craftsmanship and delivery
Review of Trespassers Verdigris
I am so happy with my purchase, and really all the work that Avant Art is doing to connect real people with artists. thank you!
Review of Inner Love
Great Packaging. Lovely print.
Review of Untitled
very happy with everything, the piece is better than I expected. Taking it to the framer next week :) thanks!
Review of Centrifuge
I’m so happy I was able to purchase this piece for my husband. The quality is top notch and just looks beautiful. Communication with you all has been so easy. Thanks so much!
Review of Descendent - Lucid Dreamer

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