* The works exhibited in Impromptu were produced in Buenos Aires, 2014, in collaboration with students from the National University of Arts and teachers and students of the Municipal Institute of Ceramics of Avellaneda.
The works belong to the artist's collection.
Room 3
Impromptu No 1, 2014
Pólvora sobre tela
350 x 144 cm
Impromptu No2, 2014
Pólvora sobre tela
350 x 144 cm
Impromptu No3, 2014
Pólvora sobre tela
275 x 127 cm
Impromptu No4, 2014
Pólvora sobre tela
275 x 127 cm
Impromptu No5, 2014
Pólvora sobre tela
275 x 127 cm
Impromptu No6, 2014
Pólvora sobre tela
315 x 174 cm
These six works on canvas are a mystery and an unknown that I left for myself. When I work on an exhibition, I usually leave one gallery with an uncertain outcome, so I can surprise myself, creating some anxiety upon encountering this unknown. I intentionally made the canvases tall and narrow, so the proportions are similar to altarpieces, alluding to Southern European Medieval and Renaissance painting. I referenced the atmosphere in the paintings by El Greco—one of my favourite painters— and added tango dancers dancing at different speeds; I also selected images of nearly 100 small wooden animal carvings that I fell deeply in love with at Iguazú. The Guaraní people use burn marks on the wooden animal carvings, which inspired me to use gunpowder to create their images. Multiple timelines and diverse cultural characteristics appear in these vertical compositions. Although these disparate elements form a certain disharmony, they capture precisely my perception of and bewilderment towards Argentina. Because of this, I am most moved by the spirit and temperament of these works, brought about by these independent and chaotic energies.”
Cai Guo-Qiang: Impromptu, 2014
Creación de dibujos con pólvora en Argentina
15 minutos. Videografía: Fernando Molnar