Exhibition view of A Material Odyssey, USC Pacific Asia Museum, 2024.
Photos by Kenryou Gu and Mengjia Zhao, courtesy Cai Studio
Test 2017.1-1A (Black Gunpowder)
2017
Gunpowder on canvas
10 1/16 x 10 1/16 in. (25.5 x 25.5 cm)
Photo courtesy Cai Studio
Transparent Monument, Preliminary Drawing No. 2
2006
Gunpowder on paper
29 15/16 x 19 5/16 in. (76 x 48.9 cm)
Photo courtesy Cai Studio
Gunpowder Study for October Revolution Centennial
2017
Gunpowder on canvas
3 ft. 11 ¼ in. x 3 ft. 11 ¼ in. x 1 5/8 in. (120 x 120 x 4 cm)
Photo courtesy The Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts
Gunpowder Test for The Ninth Wave (Panel 2)
2014
Gunpowder and fuse on paper
51 x 201 cm
Nude Poppies
2015
Gunpowder on canvas
183 x 152.5 cm
Space No. 1
1988
Gunpowder on paper; mirror
5 ft. 5 3/8 in. x 34 11/16 in. (166 x 88 cm)
Photo by Mengjia Zhao, courtesy Cai Studio
Shadow: Pray for Protection
1985–1986
Gunpowder, ink, candle wax, and oil on canvas, mounted on wood
5 ft. 5 9/16 in. x 10 ft. 1 5/8 in. (166.4 x 308.8 cm)
Photo courtesy Cai Studio
Rubbing of Archean Era
early 1980s
Ink and gunpowder on canvas
4 ft. 6 11/16 in. x 28 15/16 in. x 1 5/16 in. (138.9 x 73.4 x 3.2 cm)
Photo by Yvonne Zhao, courtesy Cai Studio
Pillar for the Sky
1985
Gunpowder and oil on canvas
33 7/8 in. x 4 ft. 1/4 in. x 1 15/16 in. (85.9 x 122.4 x 4.8 cm)
Gunpowder Painting No. 8-31
1988
Gunpowder on board
14 3/16 x 19 3/16 in. (36 x 48.7 cm)
Photo courtesy Cai Studio
The Immensity of Heaven and Earth: Project for Extraterrestrials No. 11, Preliminary Drawing No. 3
1991
Gunpowder and ink on paper
35 3/8 x 27 15/16 x 1 15/16 in. (89.8 x 70.9 x 4.8 cm)
Photo by Yi-Boe Huynh, courtesy Cai Studio
Gunpowder Painting No. 8-27
1987
Gunpowder on paper
13 x 11 13/16 x 1 in. (33 x 30 x 2.5 cm)
Gunpowder Painting No. 8-25
1987
Gunpowder on paper
10 11/16 x 9 ½ in. (27 x 24 cm)
Gunpowder Painting No. 8-10
1988
Gunpowder, acrylic, and paper pulp on canvas
7 ft. 9 15/16 in. x 6 ft. 4 3/16 in. x 3 9/16 in. (238.6 x 193.4 x 9 cm)
Photo by Mengjia Zhao, courtesy Cai Studio
Crater
1990
Gunpowder on papier-mâché
27 5/16 x 31 ½ x 2 13/16 in. (69.3 x 80 x 7 cm)
Fetus Movement II: Project for Extraterrestrials No. 9 (Seismogram, Electroencephalogram, and Electrocardiogram)
1992
Silkscreen on paper
Approx. 56 x 76 cm
Photo by Mengjia Zhao, courtesy Cai Studio
Fetus Movement II: Project for Extraterrestrials No. 9 (Gunpowder Bag)
1992
Marker on recycled plastic bag originally used to hold gunpowder for the explosion event with original gunpowder label
13 13/16 x 9 1/16 in. (35 x 23 cm)
Photo by Mengjia Zhao, courtesy Cai Studio
Drawing for Ascending Dragon
1990
Gunpowder, charcoal and ink on paper
26 3/16 x 28 3/8 in. (66.5 x 72 cm)
Photo by Mengjia Zhao, courtesy Cai Studio
Fetus Movement: Project for Extraterrestrials No. 5
1990
Gunpowder and ink on paper
22 ¼ x 30 1/8 in. (56.5 x 76.5 cm)
Photo courtesy Cai Studio
Inverted Pyramid on the Moon: Project for Humankind No. 3
1991
Gunpowder and ink on paper, mounted on wood as eight-panel folding screen
6 ft. 6 3/4 in. x 20 ft. 12 in. (200 x 640 cm)
Fetus Movement: Project for Extraterrestrials No. 5
1990
Gunpowder and ink on paper
29 15/16 x 22 ½ in. (76 x 57 cm)
Photo by Mengjia Zhao, courtesy Cai Studio
Study for Seven-Headed Dragons: Project for the Vatican Museum
2016
Gunpowder on porcelain
Approx. 37 x 26 x 17 cm
Photo by Mengjia Zhao, courtesy Cai Studio
Black Peony
2008
Gunpowder on porcelain
26 5/16 x 14 3/4 x 2 5/16 in. (66.83 x 37.31 x 5.72 cm)
Photo by Yi-Boe Huynh, courtesy Cai Studio
Non-Brand 非品牌 5
2019
Gunpowder on glass and mirror
6 ft. 1/16 in. x 5 ft. 1/16 in. (183 x 152.5 cm)
Photo by Wen-You Cai, courtesy Cai Studio
Non-Brand 非品牌 2
2019
Gunpowder on glass and mirror
183 x 152.5 cm
Photo by Wen-You Cai, courtesy Cai Studio
Blue
2017
Gunpowder on canvas
183 x 152.5 cm
Study for The Sound
2017
Gunpowder on silk
7 ft. 5/16 in. x 34 1/16 in. (214 x 86.5 cm)
Photo by Mengjia Zhao, courtesy Cai Studio
Human Abode: Project for Extraterrestrials No. 1
1989
Gunpowder on paper
6 ft. 11 7/8 in. x 5 ft. 11/16 in. (213 x 154 cm)
Photo courtesy Cai Studio
Camorra Test
2018–2019
Gunpowder on plaster, marble, glassware, porcelain, terracotta, brick, concrete, wire and canvas
Dimensions variable
Study for Pompeii No. 4: Hercules
2018
Gunpowder on canvas
240 x 150 cm
Study for Cosmos No. 1
2018
Gunpowder on canvas
35.4 x 28 cm
Selfie in Front of Kramskoi’s Painting (Study for River)
2017
Gunpowder on canvas
120 x 120 cm
Canvas on the Moon: Project for Extraterrestrials No. 38
2023
Gunpowder on glass and mirror, mounted on wood as a seven-panel folding screen
6 ft. 7 13/16 in. x 18 ft. 11 15/16 in. (202.6 x 578.9 cm)
The Annunciation of cAI™
2023
Gunpowder on glass and mirror, mounted on wood as a seven-panel folding screen
6 ft. 7 13/16 in. x 18 ft. 11 15/16 in. (202.6 x 578.9 cm)
Study of Tibetan Mineral and Plant Pigment No. 4
2021
Gunpowder on marble
19 11/16 x 19 11/16 x 1 3/16 in. (50 x 50 x 3 cm)
Study of Tibetan Mineral and Plant Pigment No. 12
2021
Gunpowder on canvas
25 x25 cm
Return to Darkness
2021
Gunpowder on glass and mirror
183 x 152.5 cm
Palmyra
2017
Gunpowder on canvas
240 x 450 cm
Photo by Wen-You Cai, courtesy Cai Studio
Painting a Wedding Portrait for Cai’s Grandparents
2024
Gunpowder on canvas
50.5 x 61 cm
Photo courtesy Cai Studio