This groundbreaking book provides the first material study of the celebrated contemporary artist Cai Guo-Qiang, known worldwide for his use of subversive materials, particularly gunpowder.

Cai Guo-Qiang (China, b. 1957) is among the most prominent contemporary artists active today. His prolific, diverse creative practice—which includes gunpowder drawings and paintings, explosion events, videos, multimedia installations, and site-specific works—draws on a personal belief system that freely blends symbols and tenets from Eastern and Western traditions. Cai’s output seeks to establish dialogues among different cultures, different periods of time, and even different species—always while probing our shared humanity and the connections that can be divined across space and time, out of chaos and disorder. Based on in-depth interviews between the author and artist and with studio assistants, as well as extensive examination, sampling, and scientific analysis of a wide range of artworks, this publication addresses the implications of Cai’s distinctive materials and processes and their associated conservation issues.

Written for conservation scientists, conservators, specialists in contemporary art 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 technical discussions provide essential findings that will inform strategies for the future care of his works.