In this short video, Cai Guo-Qiang describes the intended impact of this dramatic work. He depicts fearsome wild animals as victims of disturbing acts of violence, hoping to elicit a visceral response through the “aesthetics of pain.” These grisly scenes are open to multiple interpretations. They can be viewed as metaphors for warfare, oppression, and other manifestations of human aggression. They also lend themselves to a more literal interpretation — as a forceful portrayal of our assault on our fellow creatures. One such creature is the tiger, which has been hunted to the brink of extinction for fur and for sport. In thirteen Asian countries, however, individuals and organizations are working to reverse the decline in tiger populations with the goal of doubling wild tiger populations by 2022. Learn more about inspirational tiger conservation efforts in this post honoring three women, and see encouraging signs of recovery in this post about the return of tigers to Bhutan.

Cai Guo-Qiang discusses his inspiration for creating Head On in this short video. In the work, 99 wolves soar in unison toward a transparent barrier and crash violently with it. Following the collision, the wolves walk back to the end of the line, stoically preparing to repeat the act. The work is a powerful representation of humanity’s cyclical history of launching headlong into self-destructive conflicts. Perhaps the latest iteration in this cycle will be our actuation of an age of climate change and habitat depletion. Will we be able to see the impending collision and its implications for our planet? As noted in this article, the risk of a future environmental crisis is acute due to a widespread inability to evaluate the implications of future environmental problems. How can we address this lack of recognition and the resulting disconnect that prevents decisive action?

Throughout human history, the wolf has been perceived as a threat to human settlements and a species to be feared. This perception has led to the eradication of wolf populations throughout the world. As we have come to value biodiversity and the role of predators in healthy ecosystems, however, we have launched conservation efforts aimed at restoring wolf populations. Learn more about these conservation efforts and the encouraging results in this post by the Center for Biological Diversity.

According to scientists, there have been five periods of mass extinction in the Earth’s history. During these periods, more than 75% of species disappeared and biodiversity decreased rapidly. Today, humanity’s impact on the environment, through natural resource extraction, climate change, and other factors, has led to a dramatic spike in extinction rates, leading many scientists to assert that we have entered the sixth mass extinction. Learn more about mass extinctions in this short video. Climate change is likely to be a key factor in the continuation of this troubling trend. For example, as reported in this video from National Geographic, researchers have identified a species of rodent that is believed to be the first mammal species to have gone extinct due to climate change.

Heritage was featured  in an exhibition entitled “Cai Guo-Qiang: Falling Back to Earth” at the Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane. Learn more about the exhibition in this full-length video from Queensland Art Gallery ׀ Gallery of Modern Art.

The Ninth Wave, which evokes Noah’s ark, consists of a fishing boat filled with stuffed replicas of ailing wild animals. Prior to its installation in an exhibition space in Shanghai, the fishing boat was floated down the river against the backdrop of the Shanghai cityscape. Learn more about the work, and the exhibition that featured it, in this article with audio from NPR.

Clear Sky Black Cloud was a series of explosion events at The Metropolitan Museum of Art that took place six days a week at noon between April 25 and October 29, 2006. This performative work is a haunting reminder of the cycles of destruction in human history. Against the backdrop of climate change, the explosions evoke the daily media reports of a planet imperiled by rising temperatures. Explosion projects are a prominent part of Cai Guo-Qiang’s art practice and enable him to create captivating aesthetic experiences with powerful conceptual meaning. Learn more about Cai Guo-Qiang’s interest in gunpowder and his explosion projects in this artist interview by John Grande.

In this work, two crocodiles are pierced by sharp objects that have been confiscated at airport security checkpoints. (Zoom into the image for additional installation views.) The work explores our society’s fear of, and aggressive response to, acts of terrorism. The forceful nature of this response stands in stark contrast with our more muted response to an arguably greater threat — the introduction of invasive species. Invasive species can threaten communities by wreaking havoc on the food supply and disrupting local ecosystems. These species can transform the landscape and ravage native plant and animal populations.  Learn more about invasive species in this post from National Wildlife Federation. See how devastating invasive species can be in this article about invasive species in Australia.

Cai Guo-Qiang creates ethereal and spontaneous drawings by igniting different types of gunpowder on paper. His use of gunpowder as a medium may be a response to the repressive political and cultural environment in China, the country of his birth. It may also be a choice that pays homage to China’s proud history of invention and achievement, a history that includes the invention of gunpowder. Gunpowder also evokes the dark clouds of war, a common current in his work. What is the impact of war on the natural world? This interesting post explores the complex relationship between warfare and the environment.

Cai Guo-Qiang’s work addresses our collective responsibilities as stewards of the planet and the dangerous cycles of destruction that have marked human history.  If you are inspired by his work, you can take action in your own life.  Select one or more pledges listed below and spread the word.  You can also learn more by visiting our Pledge Center.  Let’s #EndOvershoot!