2003
paper
From the collection of Museum of Modern Art
Untitled is a 2003 by Cai Guo-Qiang, held at Museum of Modern Art.
This painting looks like two sheets of paper stuck together with messy, dark marks. The marks are uneven—some thick and clustered, others spread out like smoke. The edges are rough, almost like the paper burned or got singed. Tiny yellow flecks peek through in a few spots, standing out against the brown and white. The artist used gunpowder to make these marks, which is unusual for a painting. It’s not a picture of anything—just the marks themselves. Check out Cai Guo-Qiang to see how he turns unexpected materials into art.
Cai Guo-Qiang is a Chinese artist living in the US. He primarily utilizes pyrotechnics, with gunpowder and fireworks at the center at the of many of his works. He is most notable for his 2008 involvement in the Beijing Olympics fireworks.
See the richer artist page
