
first image
'black christmas tree' by cai guo-qiang
commissioned by arthur m. sackler gallery, smithsonian institution
renowned chinese artist cai guo-qiang has been working with gunpowder and other pyrotechnics since the 1990s.
as commentary on the upcoming holiday season, guo-qiang executed three separate explosions of a christmas tree on the north side of the freer gallery of art -
the performance entitled 'black christmas tree'. the smoky pyramid was peppered with blazing splashes as the display took place -
mimicking twinkling decorations on a traditional tree and the first ignition only lasting one-and-a-half seconds.
the smoke is specifically made of charcoal - making it environmentally-friendly - with the tree still alive post-detonation and was then replanted elsewhere.



video showing the explosive performance
video courtesy smithsonian mag
Syria, Egypt, Tunisia, Iran, mass shootings in the US…we need this like we need a hole in the head.
whippy dip…… artsy fartsy
so what
technique is more important….. no art here
It’s so… …sad.
that was really not that impressive…
That was impressive
this is the worst thing ive ever seen… and people still applaud?? are you serious
cmon db
And the purpose of this ? It was not fun and it was not funny.
Nothing wrong with the the concept, but Christ, was it poorly executed.
I love the work or the artist, mostly all of it, but this?….it´s one of the more stupid things I´ve ever seen, there´s no explanation or comment that can save it.