Cai Guo-Qiang

He was born in China in 1957 but left his native country in 1986 and moved to Japan, where he studied and began to produce his first works, acquiring national and international recognition. In 1995 he moved to New York, where he now lives. In all the places where he has been he takes native materials, rooted in their culture, and includes them in his art. That is why he began working with gunpowder explosions in 1984, as an exploration of the history of China and its connection with gunpowder. He makes this material the main element in his art, not seeking to associate it with the idea of destruction or violence but rather with its original function, which was communication. In addition to themes such as national and cultural identity, Cai’s work makes references to intercultural exchange, spirituality (especially in connection with oriental philosophy) and the power of nature. His projects are interspersed with historical references, specific places, events and a set of ideas of contemporary art. Through the use of elegant metaphors he achieves poetic universality. The artist has created two events exclusively for the IVAM; he will make one of his great gunpowder explosions and create one of his gunpowder drawings, which will explode on the museum terrace. The exhibition will provide a survey of his latest performances in leading cultural institutions such as MoMA in New York, Tate Modern in London and the Kunsthalle in Vienna.Next May 22nd at 12 am the artist will present the pyrothecnic event Black rainbow in the river park between the Trinidad and Real bridges.