Falling Back to Earth

 Exhibition by Cai Gui-Qiang 

//Heritage

"This pristine environment embodies Cai's perception of a 'last paradise', far from the cares and conflicts of the rest of the world...The number of animals (99)  is also symbolic: nine represents 'long lasting' in Chinese numerology, while 99 suggests that something is not quite complete, providing a sense of insufficiency and expectation...

If Heritage portrays the 'perfect paradise', does it also symbolise Earth's sorrow?"

//Head On

"...this work's graceful vertical loop of wolves hurling themselves into the air, only to hit a glass wall before returning to the beginning. There is the implication that if we blindly follow ideology, or misdirect our strength toward a collective goal, there can be damaging consequences. The resilience of the wolves hints at our difficulty in learning from our mistakes. The transparent glass wall suggests that we may not even be aware that an obstacle is there, or know who put it in place, yet it remains impenetrable - invisible barriers can be, the artist says, 'the hardest walls to destroy'. 

It's amazing how some of the most bizarre artwork, ones that you wouldn't expect, can directly and precisely reflect human nature and how we tend to behave. It's like the facing the truth in the most unexpected way and each time, you realise 'oh yeah, we are like that..' or 'that is so true'. Art realises and speaks the truth in so many creative ways. Who would have thought...