HTC VIVE arts is committed to working with artists to experiment and innovate, using digital technologies to push beyond traditional boundaries. ‘we greatly admire his artistic vision and tenacity in achieving the near impossible with his breathtakingly explosive and complex artworks. ‘for many years cai guo-qiang’s ground- breaking artworks have defied conventions to capture the imaginations of millions of people around the world,’ says victoria chang, HTC VIVE arts director. ‘ultimately, through the immersive 360° fireworks, I hope to create a channel for audiences to have a dialogue with a broader space and time.’ ‘it’s my first-time using VR as an artistic medium, and I hope to destabilize the sleek and flawless aesthetics commonly associated with works created by high technology, and to explore its capacity to evoke raw emotions,’ cai-guo qiang continues. moving from sparking strands of colored smoke to sunrise views over the city’s layered rooftops, the piece concludes with an explosive finale as the colored smoke and pigments dissipate and fall through the sky.
in the 5-minute VR artwork, audiences are able to witness the grand ceremony unfold over four chapters, beginning with gold, silver, and red fireworks, which ignite from all corners of the historic site. In the exhibition, as the viewer puts on the VR headset they are taken on a dreamlike journey, where they experience the artist’s signature fireworks from unexpected perspectives - sometimes immersed inside the alabaster model of the forbidden city, and sometimes soaring high above, traversing the colored smoke in midair.
through a unique production process - which incorporates 3D and modeling, 360° filming, and CG technologies - the artist imbues the virtual world with the authentic touch of artisanship and explosive energy, aiming to convey a sense of the natural world and capture the energy between heaven and earth. at a time when it is feasible to reproduce nearly any object in the virtual world, the artist spent five months sculpting a model of the forbidden city and created a full-scale fireworks ceremony by the liuyang river. using the ancient medium of gunpowder, the artist challenges the adaptability, control and precision associated with VR technology. ‘sleepwalking in the forbidden city’ is installed in the final section of the exhibition and comprises of three elements: a large-scale alabaster model of the forbidden city, created in collaboration with craftsmen from the artist’s hometown a richly layered gunpowder drawing and the VR film. ‘the work highlights traditional chinese aesthetics and the bold spirit of ‘the world is mine’ felt within the forbidden city, and expresses my thoughts while ‘sleepwalking’ back to that chapter of its history.’
‘the daytime fireworks ceremony for sleepwalking in the forbidden city was inspired by the traditional principles of ’round sky and square earth’ and wuxing (the five elements),’ explains cai-guo qiang. Still for VR work sleepwalking in the forbidden city | image courtesy cai studio inspired by the fireworks celebrations historically held to mark the lunar new year, and how virtual reality can enhance the tension between the real and virtual world, the artist imagines an ancient daytime fireworks ceremony in celebration of the site. on view at the palace museum in beijing, the ‘odyssey and homecoming’ exhibition coincides with the 600th anniversary of the founding of the forbidden city.
Still for VR work sleepwalking in the forbidden city | image courtesy cai studio (also main image)Ĭai guo-qiang began working with gunpowder in the 1980s and is internationally known for his large-scale gunpowder paintings, installations, and outdoor explosion events. for this exhibition, cai guo-qiang uses VR technology to create a fireworks ceremony dedicated to the forbidden city and its history. the work, titled ‘sleepwalking in the forbidden city’, debuted as part of ‘odyssey and homecoming’ - the artist’s major exhibition at the palace museum, beijing, which remains on view until february 5, 2021. Chinese artist cai guo-qiang has unveiled his first virtual reality artwork, created in partnership with HTC VIVE arts.
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