An Arbitrary History: River, 2001. Installation incorporating resin and bamboo riverbed, water, yak skin and wood boats, and existing works by the artist presented as components. Dimensions variable. Collection of the artist (riverbed and boats), and various private and public collections.
Installation view at S.M.A.K. Museum of Contemporary Art, Ghent, 2003. Photo by Dirk Pauwels, courtesy S.M.A.K. Museum of Contemporary Art
1997
Wood boat, paper lanterns, limestone dragons, electric lights, and Andy Warhol ‘s Mao (1972)
Installation dimensions variable
Private collection
Installation view at Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebaek, 1997.
Photo by Jens Frederiksen.
The Dragon Has Arrived!
1997
First realized at 47th Venice Biennale (1997)
Salvaged wood from a sunken boat, Chinese flags, electric fan, and lights
Installation dimensions variable
DESTE Foundation for Contemporary Art
Installation view at the 47th Venice Biennale, 1997.
Photo by Elio Montanari, courtesy Cai Studio.
2000
Glass and stainless steel bathtub, water, fish, and model
180 x 90 x 80 cm overall
Collection of the artist
Detail, installation view at S.M.A.K. Museum of Contemporary Art, Ghent, 2003.
Photo courtesy Cai Studio.
1995
Plastic, decal, water, and acupuncture needles
184.15 x 490.22 x 0.5 cm Installation dimensions variable according to configuration
Private collection
Installation view at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, 2008.
Photo by Hiro Ihara, courtesy Cai Studio.
1995
Snakes, snakeskin, altered mirror, light bulb, balance scale, photograph, bag, and crane
162.6 x 81.3 cm
Installation view at S.M.A.K. Museum of Contemporary Art, Ghent, 2003.
Photo courtesy Cai Studio.
1995
Wooden sculpture, medicine, moxa, and statement of treatment
Dimensions variable
Sculptures: Approximately 2 m long each 33.02 x 199.39 x 27.94 cm
Installation view at the First Johannesburg Biennial, 1995.
Photo by Cai Guo-Qiang, courtesy Cai Studio.
Arms—Contradiction
1994
Lead, wood
Dimensions variable. Wood: approximately 360.7 x 4 cm. Lead: 152.4 x 99 x 6.3 cm
Installation view at Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art, 1994.
Photo courtesy Cai Studio.
1992
Documentation images of Wailing Wall–From the Engine of Four Hundred Cars (1992), printed on cloth diapers, and hanging device
Approximately 100 x 120 x 120 cm overall
Installation view as part of Arbitrary History: River at the Musée d’art contemporain de Lyon, 2001.
Photo by Blaise Adilon, courtesy Musée d’art contemporain de Lyon.
An Arbitrary History: Roller Coaster, 2001. Roller coaster, printed fabric ceiling, and audio recording (Gustav Holst, “Jupiter, The Bringer or Jollity” from The Planets [1914–16]). Dimensions variable. Collection du Musée d’art contemporain de Lyon
Installation view at S.M.A.K. Museum of Contemporary Art, Ghent, 2003. Photo by Dirk Pauwels, courtesy S.M.A.K. Museum of Contemporary Art
The Age of Not Believing in God, 1999. Wooden sculptures, arrows: bronze heads, bamboo and feather shaft. Installation dimensions variable. Sculptures: height: 80 to 130 cm ea. Museum Ludwig Köln
Installation view at S.M.A.K. Museum of Contemporary Art, Ghent, 2003. Photo courtesy Cai Studio
Inheritance: Exploding Jan Hoet’s Portrait, 2003. Realized at S.M.A.K, Gent, March 28, 2003, approximately 10 seconds. Gunpowder and fuse on the wall. Explosion dimensions variable. Dimension of mural: 360 x 250 cm. [Ephemeral]
Photo by Dirk Pauwels, courtesy S.M.A.K. Museum of Contemporary Art.
The Eagle Has Arrived!, 2001. Boat, 30 oars, 30 spears, EU flag, and fan. 145 x 650 x 230 cm. Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art
Photo by Dirk Pauwels, courtesy S.M.A.K. Museum of Contemporary Art.