Men's Vogue > Culture

arts

Men's Vogue Video

cai guo-qiang:
same word, same seed, same root

Cai Guo-Qiang creates enormous "drawings" by igniting gunpowder on vast canvasses. Below: A video of Cai making Same Word, Same Seed, Same Root. For more on Cai Guo-Qiang and to see the work of several other artists—including Stan Douglas, Vik Muniz, and more—see "the new alchemists".

You must have JavaScript enabled and Flash player 8 or greater to view this video. Click here to download the latest version of Flash.

Video by Wu Fang and Xie Xiao Ling

Same Word, Same Seed, Same Root was created at 3:00 pm, May 14, 2006, at the Min Tai Yuan Museum, in Quanzhou, Fujian, China.

The project description, from caiguoqiang.com: "The large-scale gunpowder drawing measures 18 meters in height and 9 meters in width. The drawing depicts a large banyan tree from its roots to leaves, symbolizing the same culture, same race, same roots, and same origin between Mainland China and Taiwan. The guest-welcoming banyan tree hangs at the lobby of Min Tai Yuan Museum, which is dedicated to exhibiting the fateful relationship between Fujian and Taiwan."

Men's Vogue

10 issues for $10 + $2 shipping
*plus applicable sales tax
Non-USA - Click here

 
Tropic Thunder
Give a gift!

Sign up to receive the latest tips from Men's Vogue delivered to your inbox.