Cai Guo-Qiang Lights “Explosive” Tree On National Mall

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Received US State Department Medal Of Arts

Cai Guo-Qiang, one of China’s best-known (and certainly most globetrotting) contemporary artists, took tree-lighting into his own hands this past Friday on the National Mall in Washington DC. Commemorating the Sackler Gallery’s 25th anniversary, Cai rigged a 40-foot live pine tree with 2,000 black smoke drops from Grucci Fireworks for his interpretation of an “explosive” lighting ceremony outside the gallery, after a gauntlet of strict regulations and permits. Cai hoped to create two trees, one live and one made entirely out of smoke. The tree explosion took place minutes after Cai received a US State Department Medal of Arts from Hillary Clinton. Speaking to the crowd afterward, Cai expressed his hopes for the fostering of an open international arts community.

Category: Art & Culture / Arts / Video
by Nora Chen
Tag: cai guo-qiang,chinese contemporary art,chinese contemporary artist,sackler gallery... , More
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