Christmas in a day 20 marley 2012 life in a day 2011 my enemys enemy 2007 touching the void 2003 one day in september 1999 discussion guide sky ladder. The art of cai guoqiang 2016 which portrays the life and practice of contemporary chinese artist cai guoqiang, known for his spectacular installations and the use of gunpowder cai guoqiang b. But by far the most interesting aspect of director kevin macdonalds film is guoqiang himself a brilliant and at times baffling artist who basically just really loves blowing stuff up. Official facebook page of contemporary artist cai guoqiang. The narrative of the film isnt entirely dedicated to sky ladder but it remains a. The art of cai guoqiang, which profiles the titular chinese modern artist while gauging his explosive impact on the global art scene. Sky ladder is the name of cais masterwork, a halfkilometrelong, vertical lattice of fire and smoke, 21 years in the making. In 1996, artist cai guoqiang was the first person with a chinese passport to enter the. Guoqiang lays claim to being the first artist in history to have a single artwork seen by more than one billion people, having created a firework sculpture. The art of cai guoqiang 2016 tvma 1h 19m criticallyacclaimed documentaries known for his spectacular pyrotechnic displays, chinese artist cai guoqiang creates his most ambitious project yet in this breathtaking documentary. As an adolescent, cai witnessed the social effects of the cultural revolution. Netflixs new documentary sky ladder is bursting with inspiration.
Known for his spectacular pyrotechnic displays, chinese artist cai. The art of cai guoqiang is the story of a unique artist at a pivotal moment in his life and times. On mar 1, 2016, netflix announced that it had acquired the film for worldwide distribution via its streaming service. The documentary told the story of cai s rise to global success through interviews with the artist, family, friends, colleagues, and critics. Oct 12, 2016 this being an art doc, theres naturally a lot of chinstrokey subtextual analysis of guoqiangs work from bespectacled art world intelligentsia types. Along with telling his story of artistic success, macdonalds film specifically documents guoqiang as he tries.
The art documentary is essentially about the triumph of creative spirit. The sky ladder is a 1,650foot ladder of fire climbing into the skies above artist cai guoqiangs hometown. The art of cai guo qiang, directed by oscarwinning filmmaker kevin macdonald. The 70minute feature will debut as a netflix original film, and will be available in over 190 countries starting october 14, 2016. 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. This portrait of an artists process fuses family and history to cais spectacularly expressive art of gunpowder pyrotechnics. Sky ladder wasnt just a passion project, although it represents cai s dreams of going to space from his childhood.
Cai enjoys the challenge of addressing difficulties that arise in his art projects and believes there is no failure or success in art. The first fireworks were burning pieces of bamboo, which exploded because they. This project is the culmination of a 20 year dream a monumental but ephemeral work imagined by the chinese artist cai guoqiang, which director kevin. Macdonald had previously won an oscar for best documentary for his film one day in. The opening film of garage screen summer cinema is the russian premiere of kevin macdonalds documentary feature sky ladder.
Aug 12, 2015 cai guoqiang sends flaming sky ladder soaring 500 meters in the air all images courtesy of cai studio. Connecting the earth to the rest of the universe was cai guo qiangs childhood dream. Next month, netflix will be releasing a new documentary film titled sky ladder. Oscarwinning filmmaker kevin macdonald chronicles the making of the ripacrossthesky fireworks of worldrenowned contemporary artist cai guoqiang. Its also the title of a documentary about cais life and oeuvre, which premiered at the sundance film festival this january and will receive a wider release on netflix at the end of the month. The art of cai guoqiang can be seen in select theaters and on netflix on october 14, 2016 and will have a european premiere next week.
Today, netflix will be releasing its documentary focusing on chinese contemporary artist cai guoqiang, sky ladder. How cai guoqiang built a 1,650foottall ladder out of fire artsy. Nov 15, 2016 kevin macdonalds documentary sky ladder. There is an irresistible, herzogian flavor to kevin macdonald s new documentary, sky ladder. The art of cai guoqiang encompasses a little bit of all of the above. Cai guoqiang is an electrifying artist who creates massive drawings from fireworks, meant to unite eastern philosophy and contemporary social issues. The art of cai guoqiang is as fleeting and elegant as the gunpowder events mounted by cai guoqiang.
Oct 14, 2016 a new documentary film on the artist, sky ladder. Produced by wendi murdoch and fisher stevens, and directed by acclaimed filmmaker kevin macdonald, sky ladder is the first featurelength documentary about the artist. Cai guoqiang was born in 1957 in quanzhou, fujian province, china. Sky ladder may not fully penetrate the mystery of cais artistic identity, but it ends with the poignant suggestion that the most significant. 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. 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. The execution of this 500meter ladder was the subject of the netflix documentary sky ladder. The art of cai guoqiang by director kevin macdonald follows the projects ultimate success and struggles throughout. 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. But almost immediately after cai put the apec commission to bed, he redoubled his efforts on the secret project that would be called sky ladder 2015one that would completely circumvent the countrys government. Oct 14, 2016 today, netflix will be releasing its documentary focusing on chinese contemporary artist cai guoqiang, sky ladder. How cai guoqiang built a 1,650foottall ladder out of fire.
Trace the rise of contemporary artist cai guo qiang from childhood in maos china to global art world superstar, and join his quest to realize his lifelong obsession. Oct 21, 2016 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 guoqiangs stunning sky ladder finally succeeds. Academy awardwinning filmmaker kevin macdonalds the last king of scotland. 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. Along with telling his story of artistic success, macdonalds film specifically documents guoqiang as he tries to create his most demanding project yet, the sky laddera firework display that would ascend 1,650 feet into the air. Now living in new york with his family, guoqiang stages audacious and jawdropping largescale art projects involving fireworks. The sky ladder is a 1,650foot ladder of fire climbing into the skies above artist cai guo qiang s hometown. The film was released by netflix on october 14, 2016. Cai guoqiangs stunning sky ladder finally succeeds artnet.
The art of cai guoqiangthe first fulllength documentary feature on cai guoqiangpremiered at sothebys new york headquarters, attended by more than two hundred distinguished guests. It is a blazing ladder floating in the air, but lasting less than three minutes. Aug, 2015 cai guo qiang, sky ladder, realized at huiyu island harbour, quanzhou, fujian, june 15, 2015 at 4. Coils fire off, tracing the path of a ladder across the waters of huiyu island harbor and then reaching into the sky. A portrait of an ambitious and often personally conflicted environmental artist, sky ladder has a lot in common with the likes of rivers and tides and the maysles brothers and charlotte zwerin s christo films, in that it creates a permanent cinematic record of work designed to be ephemeral. Two surprising movies are totally dominating netflix right. Artist cai guoqiang authentically portrayed in netflixs. Today were giving away a postcard of the iconic sky ladder display, signed by cai guoqiang himself. Its this piece that becomes the crux of the film and the lens through which cais motivation is revealed.
The art of cai guoqiang 2016 which portrays the life and practice of contemporary chinese artist cai guoqiang, known for his spectacular installations and the use of gunpowder. 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. I am absolutely ashamed in the fact that not only have i never heard of this. Oct 10, 2016 but almost immediately after cai put the apec commission to bed, he redoubled his efforts on the secret project that would be called sky ladder 2015one that would completely circumvent the countrys government. The art of cai guoqiang, oscar winner kevin macdonald aims to bring the sundance film festival a. The film shows my past and how i functionthings a lot of people dont want to admit, or dont want to show. Kevin macdonalds superbly constructed, luminous film captures for posterity the brilliance of an artist whose ephemeral work is, by its nature, completely of the. Sky ladder will benefit from cais popularity worldwide. The art of cai guoqiang, released on netflix october 14, goes in a slightly different direction.
Produced by wendi murdoch and fisher stevens, and directed by acclaimed filmmaker kevin macdonald, sky ladder is the first featurelength documentary about the artist the inspiring and poignant film offers a beautiful portrait of cais. As a result, cai guoqiang was exposed early on to western literature as well as traditional chinese art forms. The art of cai guoqiang offers an inviting glimpse into the life of a truly international. His father, cai ruiqin, was a calligrapher and traditional painter who worked in a bookstore. The art of cai guoqiang is a narrative documentary film directed by academy award winner kevin macdonald and produced by wendi deng murdoch, hugo shong, and fisher stevens. The art of cai guoqiang 2016 vm14 1h 19m documentaries known for his spectacular pyrotechnic displays, chinese artist cai guoqiang creates his most ambitious project yet in this breathtaking documentary. The art of cai guoqiang 2016 tvma 1h 19m documentaries known for his spectacular pyrotechnic displays, chinese artist cai guoqiang creates his most ambitious project yet in this breathtaking documentary. The art of cai guo qiang was shot by wes anderson collaborator robert yeoman, who captures the beautiful, cacophonous even terrifying explosions, and the more. Sundance documentary sky ladder puts chinese artist cai guo.
Besides playing on the festival circuit, in art houses and on television, the film is sure to show at the many museums and art fairs. The art of cai guo qiang is the story of a unique artist at a pivotal moment in his life and times. The inspiring and poignant film offers a beautiful portrait of cais practice and. Produced by oscarwinner fisher stevens the cove, wendi deng, and hugo shong. The art of cai guoqiang gabriel monade having only seen pictures of the title piece and without even knowing the artist this film was such a good introduction to cais work. There is an irresistible, herzogian flavor to kevin macdonalds new documentary, sky ladder.
Mar 05, 2017 connecting the earth to the rest of the universe was cai guo qiangs childhood dream. The spectacular visual displays of the chineseborn artist cai guoqiang lend an undeniably cinematic razzledazzle to sky ladder. 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 wi. It celebrates the art and ambition of a guoqiang, who paints images in the sky using colorful fireworks. May 18, 2017 the opening film of garage screen summer cinema is the russian premiere of kevin macdonalds documentary feature sky ladder. The art of cai guoqiang was shot by wes anderson collaborator robert yeoman, who captures the beautiful, cacophonous even. The art of cai guoqiang follows the continuing ascent of this chineseborn, new yorkbased artist as he works in different mediums for different. Oct 14, 2016 there is an irresistible, herzogian flavor to kevin macdonalds new documentary, sky ladder. Creating ambitious signature pieces on the largest imaginable scales, cai s. Artist cai guoqiang authentically portrayed in netflixs sky. Oct 14, 2016 some of cai guoqiangs art exists for mere moments. Originally acquired by netflix at sundance, sky ladder.
Trace the rise of contemporary artist cai guoqiang from childhood in maos. When he finally realised it in 2015 after 20 years and three failed attempts, a majestic 500metre ladder of gold light ascended into the night sky over the huiyu island harbour, not far from cais hometown in fujian province. This film captures the work and life of cai guoqiang, whose frequent use of gunpowder serves as both an ancestral homage and an acknowledgement of. Most famous for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 beijing summer olympics, cai guoqiang explores the connections between the human and the cosmic, destruction and creation, the eternal and the fleeting.
Cai guoqiang tells us true story behind sky ladder. The film shows my past and how i function things a lot of people dont want to admit, or dont want to show. When he finally realised it in 2015 after 20 years and three failed attempts, a majestic 500metre ladder of gold light ascended into the night sky over the huiyu island. Sundance documentary sky ladder puts chinese artist cai. It will play the sundance film festival five more times on january 22nd at 8. Cai guoqiang, sky ladder, realized at huiyu island harbour, quanzhou, fujian, june 15, 2015 at 4. The film takes a look at a revolutionary new contemporary artist who creates art that is beautiful, explosive, and can only be experienced in a singular moment. Chineseborn artist cai guoqiang first gained attention with his eyecatching canvases that combined symbols and narratives from traditional chinese culture with the scorch marks of burnt gunpowder. With ian buruma, guoqiang cai, wenyou cai, wenhao cai. With ian buruma, guo qiang cai, wenyou cai, wenhao cai.
Kevin macdonald last king of scotland begins with a brief history of fireworks, discovered by chinese alchemists searching for the elixir of immortality. Sharing his thoughts on the new documentary, cai commented. Sky ladder chronicles his life and career in illuminating fashion, beginning with his troubled childhood. Pyrotechnic savant cai guoqiang unpacks the metaphysical questions at the heart of his explosive oeuvre for a new film series by fine art visual search engine art. Known for his spectacular pyrotechnic displays, chinese artist cai guoqiang creates his most ambitious project yet. Cai guoqiang 1,650ft ladder made out of fire cnn style.
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