Cai Guo-Qiang: Saraab Mathaf’s Single Artist Exhibition – Explosive Art sensation
Mathaf, the Arab Museum of Modern Art, embraced a phenomenal artist and his extreme form of artistry. Cai Guo-Qiang opened his solo exhibition displaying more than 50 artworks through the museums international art scene Saraab (“mirage” in Arabic) displaying a journey of personal and artistic discovery for the Asian artist.

Saraab is inspired by the diverse historical background of the artist’s hometown of Guangzhou, China. Cai Guo-Qiang attempts to illuminate the long-standing but concealed relationship between China and the Arab world, dating back to the ancient maritime Silk Road. Drawing upon Eastern philosophy and contemporary social issues as a conceptual basis, these projects and events aim to establish an exchange between viewers and the larger universe around them, utilizing a site-specific approach to culture and history.

Qatar Museums Authority Chairperson Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani says: ― “With this exhibition by Cai Guo-Qiang, which marks so many firsts for both the artist and for us, we again open fascinating new territory for our audience to explore as we continue to encourage global cultural dialogue and exchange.”

During his exhibition, Cai Guo-Qiang gives a brief thought on his showcase and the idea of the Arab Museum ‘Mathaf’ – “This museum Mathaf, seeks to shift perceptions and understanding of both Arab art and the larger context of modern and contemporary art from an Arab perspective, and Saraab is a wonderful opportunity to show the world the potential of this idea.”

The goal of the entire exhibition was to build a connection between discourses, in the Arab world and in the international art world – and now too with the help of the greater history of Asia.

The emphasis of the exhibition revolved around Cai’s explosive art show. These gunpowder drawings for the exhibition were created with help of the local volunteers, creating works that trace the maritime route from ancient Arabia to Guangzhou.

These gunpowder drawings provide a symbolic avenue for rebirth or healing, a measured tension between destruction and creation – while echoing the patterns seen in Islamic decorative
art.
Cai, being a dweller of New York City, says, “I am forever inspired by the lights in the streets. When the lights go on around the late hours of the afternoon, it is like a continuous heat wave, or bright explosions taking place, one after the other. It fascinates and amazes me that such beauty can be found the mere form of carbon and fire.”

Cai also created Odyssey, a permanent gunpowder drawing installation for the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston in 2010.

Installed as part of the museum's ongoing Portal Project, it is one of his largest gunpowder drawings to date.

In December 2011, Cai’s solo exhibition Cai Guo-Qiang: Saraab at Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art in Doha, Qatar was the first ever exhibition in the Middle East, of its magnitude, and a first ever for Cai Guo-Qiang.

By Mona Mashhour