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