More Than Meets the Eye

Day 4 
Saturday, March 17


Writing Workshops at Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, Doha

Near Doha's Souq Waqif, with the Fanar Islamic Center marking the skyline.

Saturday afternoon we tackled another form of art-writing: the profile. This involves not only looking closely at an artist's work, but learning about his/her practice, as well as the artist him/herself. 

Mathaf's exhibition of Cai Guo-Qiang, "Saraab," includes video documentation of many of the pieces made for the show. First we looked at Route, Cai's map that re-creates the maritime Silk Road from East to West Asia. 

Installation view of Route (2011), Gunpowder on four sheets of paper, stones 400 x 1,200 cm (157 1/2 x 472 7/16 in.) overall, 400 x 300 cm (157 1/2 x 118 1/8 in) each sheet, Commissioned by Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art Photo by Lin Yi, courtesy of Cai Studio

Then we headed up to Mathaf's first floor to learn about how the work was created, and to learn more about the exhibition at large. 

the first floor at Mathaf, watching video documentation of "Saraab"

taking notes

workshop attendees watching a documentary about how "Saraab" came together

the making of Route in Doha, in October 2011

Then it came time to interview the artist. . . 

Cai Guo-Qiang, picture courtesy MFA Houston

In Cai's absence, we found a surrogate (though not quite doppelgänger) who was familiar with Cai's practice. We prepared three questions for the artist's double and he tried to answer them as best he could by channeling the spirit of Cai without the workshop becoming a seance. He may, or may not, have given some false information about Cai's future plans for an exhibition in Africa. . . Was I not supposed to leak that information yet? Oops. 


Apologies to Cai for any of the portrayals that don't quite sound like the man himself. . . apparently some of workshop attendees encountered the artist in very diverse places, including one of Amsterdam's more notorious neighborhoods, a beach in Japan, for coffee in Doha and the artist's studio in Quanzhou (Cai, you have a studio there too, right?). I told them to make their profiles interesting — and they did. 


As with pervious sessions, these profiles were built based on notes taken in the gallery, our "interview" with the artist, and then in response to 14 specific questions, which formed a kind of template for the profile. The questions are not included in the passages below. As before, I only corrected spelling and a few typos when I was compiling these profiles. Anything that I've added in is included in square brackets. 




Profiles of Cai Guo-Qiang (Man, Myth and (lots of) Legend)


During my stay in Doha, I met a very interesting individual, Cai Guo-Qiang. It was after a local performance where a mutual friend invited us both for coffee at his house where I got to have a conversation with this very unique individual.

            We discussed a piece of his art that was very interesting to me, Route which was the artist’s visualization of the silk route that was used for trade between our world and his, where he tried to capture the perilous journey between the Middle East and China. The big canvas portrayed the dangers of the journey and how if you deviate from the actual route you might encounter the massive waves.

            Through the artist’s decision to use the old maps and seeing how much it deviates from the real thing shows us the uncertainty that the navigators faced in their journey which also adds to the aspect of danger.

            The unique way in which the map was made is spectacular. Cai used gunpowder on paper to create this work where igniting the powder scorches the paper, leaving traces on the paper.

            When I asked about his interest in this part of the world, Cai mentioned how he enjoyed learning about the similarities between our cultures and the “histories we share” and our common ideologies.

            The “explosive” nature of Cai’s art makes it very difficult for his work to be successful. When I asked Cai about the complications that he faced, he replied, “most of my work is a failure,” and he talked about how hard it was to come up with artwork that is worth of display.

            I loved Cai’s work as he has a very interesting way in which he interprets culture. If I was to summarize Cai in a sentence, it would be “one of a kind.” I know that he will inspire new, upcoming artists to follow in his footsteps.

—Khalid

Cai Guo-Qiang sits on a sunken-in green chair in his studio in Quanzhou, China, with his hands immersed in a bucket of deep black gunpowder. When his wrists and then hands slowly emerge from the dark void they form tight, hard fists, clasped around a cluster of the fine, black particles. He seems almost entranced as thin streams of the substance escape through his fingers and fall down, creating small indentations and craters in the surface of the larger mass.

            Still staring into the black substance, he murmurs in a barely audible voice, causing me to lean closer to hear him fully: “I was raised in a collective environment, in a place where a person only had meaning because of his relationship of to others. Much like these fine particles of gunpowder, it was believed that power and force were achieved via communication and understanding with a larger mass.

            Although Cai grew up in Communist China — a place that honored collective action and sensibility, this modern conception has much older roots in Chinese history. Thoughout his works, Cai imagines a cultural memory, connecting himself to that prior time.

            For Route, a large-scale “gunpowder drawing,” Cai explores the tendrils of maritime connections between his hometown in China and the Middle East, particularly the Gulf region, easily accessible by boat via the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Arabia. The work is an “Imitation of a Nautical Chart,” traditionally a man-made map used for sea explorations. [. . .]

— Laura

I encountered Cai in the Arab Museum of Modern Art in Qatar. The intriguing artist’s countenance reflects on the humble background he belonged to, but his thought and connection with art highlights his unique perspective on the notion of constructive community building capacity. His thoughts on spirituality attracted me the most. He finds connections between different curators, histories and religions through the medium of spirituality that resonates across them.

            Route is an attempt by Cai to detach from the contemporary political discourses about the Middle East and invoke harmony between the diverse continents based on the [   ] history they share. The process of creating Route involved gunpowder as the main constituent. The imagination employed by Cai, which comes in sync with the medium, it creates a miracle: art — as Cai would describe it.

            He transitioned from oil paints to gunpowder. It was a chance encounter that left him captivated. It resonates with immense significance, as while growing up he experienced how well-embedded gunpowder was in Chinese culture.

            Route was a project made in Doha, in collaboration with Mathaf. The use of stones to create the uneven look of the water currents enhances the overall feel of the project. The communist connections and influences make him humble, which is reflected through his work. Cai is known globally for his fireworks. His use of an unconventional material, to display his imagination that plays a constructive role in relaying his message and inspiration. “Every soul shall taste death.”

            [His works address the] casualties and bloody history that still haunts people due to the use of violence and weapons of mass destruction in wartime. His observations led him to discovering the innovative use of gunpowder. He uses explosive material that has caused injuries to his students. It doesn’t seem like the man is content, his thirst and inquisitive mind is next taking him to Africa to explore social and political issues that might inspire him there.

—Safa

In the Gulf state of Qatar, the “Saraab” exhibition by Cai Guo-Qiang occupies the entire Mathaf Museum in Doha. I meet the artist in the gallery housing his thematic work Route. Cai is calm and unassumingly explains the concept behind his piece with a group of curious onlookers. He serenly states, “Life is a journey . . . I am inspired by life.”

            Route is impressive in scale. It is a burn drawing on paper laid out over stones gathered from the grounds of the Doha museum Mathaf. The drawing itself is a depiction of a navigational map charting the route between Asia and the Middle East. Cai’s creation of Route follows the same method he has employed in the past using gunpowder and stencils. The gunpowder is ignited and the burn drawing is the result. Route was made shortly before the opening of “Saraab.” Like other site-specific works, Cai employed the help of the community, in this case Qatari youth in the creation of the piece. I find this particular work significant for its metaphorical treatment of historical facts. Route is not an actual map, but as the artist described it, an “Imitation of a Nautical Chart.” It aims to tell a story of the journey and connections not only made in history but in life.

            Although he studied set design in Shanghai, he truly found inspiration and influence after moving to Japan and being exposed to Western art and Japanese avant-garde artists. Cai Guo-Qiang is world renowned for his amazing and unique firework displays and gunpowder drawings exhibited in cities like New York and Tokyo. Cai’s art displays innovation in his use of materials, harnessing of fire and chaos to turn destructive forces into creative ones. This transforms him from just an artist to a true creator.

            When asked what kind of artwork he would create that represents his life, Cai responds, “Whatever I make will be like life itself, ephemeral.” The physical world becomes the beginnings of the spiritual world. Recurring themes which present themselves in Cai’s work include those of creation, destruction and death, as well as spirituality.

—Bebe

In Amsterdam, Holland, Cai Guo-Qiang is wearing a polka dot suit of yellow and blue, and is standing next to the Red Light district, about to sample the local delights. “Barney’s has improved the blue cheese,” he remarks.

            Cai’s Route uses Japanese paper, gunpowder flash marks, as well as local rocks. Using paint done in a calligraphic style he marked out the ships and countries and waves, using flash marks for emphasis. “It is a loud, dramatic process one that I like to share with the public,” he says. Route was made last year in Doha, as part of the Mathaf commission. The inclusion of European ships is significant.

            There is a 1,000-year-old mosque in Cai’s hometown [of Quanzhou]. As an exhibition-maker, he is known for his firework displays, and quite famous for his multi-media [works]. Amongst the action are subtle political and cultural observations. “It is a magical transformation of material from a solid state to a transient state.”

            [The big themes in Cai’s work] are political and cultural comments, interacting with the public, and connecting people. He embraces current concepts and ideas/trends to make art out of them. He has the best compositional awareness I have ever seen. Like the song says, “Things can only get better.”

—Thomas

Cai Guo-Qiang heroically stands on a large rusted rock at a sea in Japan. His hands rest delicately on his hips while his simple clothing gives him a modest appearance. He says, “Who ever dies as a foreigner dies as a martyr.” It immediately made me ponder on my understanding of death.

            [Route is] a large piece of artwork drawn upon four handmade papers illustrating the journey from Quanzhou to Doha. Route was created by placing gunpowder on the handmade papers with stencils to create the shapes, and he blew it up under coverings to discard any harmful situations. Cai believes that his use of gunpowder portrays the culture of his culture since it has significance from thousands of years, and it holds a metaphorical interpretation.

            Route was made in Qatar, commissioned by the Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art to show the journey of China from Quanzhou to Doha. Route plays with a sense of perspective because the landscapes are shown from above, while the boats are seen from sideways. The piece of art was placed on the ground so that people can look down upon it. Route clearly shows that the artist knows his different kinds of gunpowder and its intensity. He learned about explosives because as a child he would play around with fireworks.

            Cai is famous for his explosive styles of art. He as commissioned to have a firework display at the Olympics in 2008. The contemporary world is going through a phase of artistic block because people do not know what to paint any more, and I think Cai is a great source of inspiration.

            In an overall manner, Cai said, “Death is a gate, and our present life is an illusion.” Cai experiments with the use of gunpowder in most of his artworks. There is always a narrative in each of his large-scale works. He knows that the only way he can have a sense of control with gunpowder is by using a stencil.

            After witnessing his range of styles, I think he grew as an artist always planned before doing an art piece. I realize that to make a good piece of art, you have to plan. Cai needs to decrease his use of gunpowder for art pieces because he is creating air pollution in our world. [In the future] Cai is seeking to create an exhibition in South Africa.

—Emelina

In Doha, Qatar, Cai Guo-Qiang has been encountered in the “More Than Meets the Eye,” workshop. He was providing a session of this artwork and writing. The most interesting this he said was that “he used gunpowder because it was invented in his hometown.”

            Route is an artwork made of stones, paper, gunpowder and paint. It shows the map of the journey of the artist from China to Qatar. It is a big piece on the floor. For this artwork, he used gunpowder explosions to paint on the map the route of his journey. He tried to find a way in modern Arab culture to make his work. He made his work in Doha with help from volunteers. Because the artist through this work provided a connection between China and the Arab world.

            The artist studied set design in 1970. He is famous for his firework displays in cities around the world. He is a good artist in taking the attention of viewers. “My message is to re-bridge the place where I came from and the place where I am.”

            The big theme of his artwork is life. His artworks are about life and human interaction. He is a creative artist that used a material that he likes to serve a purpose in his artworks. In his artworks, he is depending on the moving shows, which is really amazing. I think he will become more and more world renowned because everytime he knows how to attract the audience by his live shows.

—Manal

I saw Cai at Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art in Doha. He was wear blue jeans with a white shirt. He was standing next to his artwork and showing what he does while making the artworks.

            Route is a big piece, it’s a handmade paper with gunpowder drawing. It shows the Chinese islands and the Arab countries, the paper lying across a rocky surface of stones. In the video, he was with a group of students. They had three big hard white papers on the ground, and Cai was drawing with gunpowder by his hand. Cai made Route in front of an audience and many people helped the artist. I love the sea and the ships. It attracted me and I loved the journey from Quanzhou to Doha with the Chinese handwriting and old ships.

            Cai studied set design at the Shanghai Drama Academy in the 1970s. He was always interested in fleeting and memories between countries. He designed firework displays in cities like Beijing, New York and Tokyo. Cai open my eyes in lots of things in life. His works were a lot of old and beautiful relationship between countries and their old history.

            The artist is a very educated man and he is very good in drawing with gunpowder. Cai is a very great man, and I think that he will have a big future and plans after the show in Mathaf. His drawings are full of deep relationships between cultures and history.

—Maha

It was near the Education City in Qatar for the Black Ceremony opening. He was casually dressed, standing between an English and Arabic interpreter. “The present life is an illusion,” a quote he chose from Islam.

            Route is a relatively medium sized artwork that seemed to connect the Arab world and his hometown and Japan where resided. He used rocks from Doah as a base, paper made in Japan, to show the Silk Road journey over the seas. It shows ships from Asia, Europe and the Arab world, as well as constellations.  The map was painted with a calligraphy brush and strokes that is a Japanese style of writing. “I didn’t know where to start for artwork in Qatar. General views of the desert lands and city inspired me to create something that connects Doha to my homeland.”

            [His source of inspiration] was the use of fireworks in his childhood. Cai does experimental art and choreographed firework displays. It’s exciting, as the medium he chooses to use is not usual kind. “Death is a gate.”

            [His work addresses] history, culture, through the narratives in each of his artworks. Cai stays focused in front of an audience. He should continue his fireworks as a form of art. Projects in North Africa are in the making.

—Niña

I met Cai during the opening of his exhibition “Saraab.” He looked relaxed and smiled at us. “My work is a connection of all my journeys and life is my source of inspiration,” Cai said. “It is my way to try to understand us human beings,” he concluded.

            We walked through the exhibition we passed by one of his works Route, made my four large pieces of handmade paper from China, where Cai draw a map with gunpowder. To create his piece of work, Cai used a stencil to place the gunpowder. He finalized his drawing with the explosion of gunpowder. “I use gunpowder because it is a material that has been used in China by generations. It is a link to my identity and connected to my journey as an artist,” he said with a smile.

            Cai created Route in October in Doha with the collaboration of 200 volunteers to explain the relationship between the two nations. In Route, every material used has a meaning and a reason to be there. A drawing depicting the Silk Road on a Chinese paper, drawn with Chinese gunpowder, placed on a bed of rocks from Doha, represents today a way to remember and to try to understand the relationship between nations.

            He started his career as a set designer at the Shanghai Drama Academy in the 1970s but he was always surrounded by art. His father was an artist and the opening of China to the West influenced Cai to become an artist. Cai is very well known internationally for his work with gunpowder as well as for his great installations with unusual materials. Cai’s work will take us through a journey where he will be raising questions and questioning our conception of what is or is not art.

            “I don’t intend to give a message with my works, but to question and to create curiosity,” he said. In his exhibition “Saraab,” Cai describes a journey between Chin and Qatar through history, myths, beliefs and disbeliefs. Cai is an artist able to work in the middle of noise surrounded by people and curious visitors. To plan his solo exhibition “Saraab,” Cai made a very inspired connection with the Arab world and in all his works he showed a deep knowledge of both cultures, the Chinese and the Arab.

—Marcela

I was really happy with these profiles, considering that we had to mix interpretation of the artwork with this ersatz encounter with the "artist," plus draw on background research about the exhibition itself. It's a lot of information to synthesize and then write about in just a three-hour workshop. Bravo to the whole gang. This was one of my favorite sessions. 


And Cai, I may have answered questions on your behalf in Doha pro bono, but in the future I'm happy to do that for a very reasonable hourly rate. Please get in touch if you need my services. 


Thanks to everyone who came the writing workshop on Saturday! — HG Masters