Audio tour Cai Guo-Qiang. October

Welcome to the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Art in Moscow. The ‘October’ project is the first introduction of a world-famous contemporary artist Cai Guo-Qiang to the Russian audience. The leading museums in the world are in competition over the honor of hosting an exhibition of this painter and this Autumn, for 3 months, the works by Cai Guo-Qiang are on view at the Pushkin State museum of fine art. 

Born in Suanzshow, China, In 1957, Cai was the first person to start using gunpowder – a Chinese invention – to create large-scale so called gunpowder paintings. Ever since it’s been the key to his artistic method. In 1999 Cai Guo-Qiang has been awarded with the Golden Lion – the highest prize of the Venice Biennial. 

Even if it seems like you have never heard his name, Cai Guo-Qiang has authored at least one work that you have definitely seen. He is the person behind the magnificent firework show at the Opening and Closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics in 2008. The ‘October’ exhibition introduces us to the various sides of Cai Guo-Qiang’s artistic genius – both as a creator of monumental installations, and as an artist creating his paintings with gunpowder, let alone an author of world-famous pyrotechnic events. All the works that you see here have been created specifically for the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Art in Moscow.

Let’s proceed.