Cai Guo-Qiang

CaiGuo-Qiang (China b. 1957) is among the most prominent contemporary artists activetoday. His prolific, diverse creative practice-which includes gunpowderdrawings and paintings, explosion events, videos, multimedia installations,and site-specific works-draws on a personal belief system that freely blendssymbols and tenets from Eastern and Western traditions. Cai's output seeks toestablish dialogues among different cultures, different periods of time, andeven different species-always while probing our shared humanity and theconnections that can be divined across space and time out of chaos anddisorder. Based on in-depth interviews between the author and artist and withstudio assistants, as well as extensive examination, sampling, and scientificanalysis of a wide range of artworks, this publication addresses theimplications of Cai's distinctive materials and processes and theirassociated conservation issues. Written for conservation scientists, conservators, specialists in contemporaryart history, museum curators, collections managers, practicing artists,collectors, and art enthusiasts, this book offers insights into the life,methods, and materials of a leading figure in the art world. The technicaldiscussions provide essential findings that will inform strategies for thefuture care of his works.