It is important to keep in mind that there is no strict definition of art or what it can feasibly look like. Artists over the past many centuries have tried to find new ways to separate themselves from the pack and think of new methods of expression. Cai Guo-Qiang is a specific artist who uses fireworks to paint the sky and gunpowder to paint paper. Fireworks, a fairly commonly used thing for events such as July 4 and everyday in London (according to a Junior who was just abroad), Guo-Qiang’s view of fireworks is very different from that of the average person. He likes to harness explosives and make art in the sky, an extremely unconventional way to express a message, something that was not possibly harnessed until the science of fireworks was really mastered in recent decades. The interesting thing about this is how temporary his version of art is. While other artists draw and paint on canvases that can last many years, Guo-Qiang’s version of art can last a mere few seconds, easily missed by someone who looked away. Possibly a symbol of this generation’s quick attention span and constant need for change, Guo-Qiang uses those attributes to his advantage when unleashing his displays. He uses a beautiful combination of color and darkness in his displays, something that very few artists have been able to master. Typical firework displays are just rapid explosions of color and noise, but Guo-Qiang calculates all of his moves, to give a specific meaning to his work.
