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Cai Guo-Qiang at the Guggenheim, NYC

A few weekends ago I joined yw at the Guggenheim for the Cai Guo-Qiang retrospective. I wasn't sure what to expect. I ended up mesmerized.

We made our way slowly up the ramp, pausing to listen to the audio guide or to read plaques. We stopped and watched each video display, which brought new insight into his process and technique. Watching him make his gunpowder paintings was fascinating; watching his assistants attmempt to quickly put out any fires that were lit by the exploding the gunpowder was surprisingly funny.

This is a photo of the main atrium of the museum looking up towards the skylight. The work seems particularly apt in his use of materials to explore his art. The firework lights speak not only to his Chinese background (in courtyards across the country you can find the sparkly light installations) and his fascination with pyrotechnics. I hadn't realized just how perfect it was until after the exhibition.