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Cai Guo-Qiang — Study for Uffizi: Small Piece No. 2
Cai Guo-Qiang — Study for Uffizi: Small Piece No. 2
Cai Guo-Qiang

Study for Uffizi: Small Piece No. 2

2018

This small square canvas presents a luminous study in controlled destruction, where deep crimsons and dusty reds bloom across pale pink grounds. Diagonal streaks of charcoal and gunpowder residue cut through the composition like geological strata or weathered pathways, while soft halos of color diffuse outward from areas of darker concentration. The work exemplifies Cai Guo Qiang's signature technique of detonating gunpowder on canvas, a method that transforms explosive force into painterly gesture. The tension between the violence of the medium and the delicate chromatic result reveals the artist's long standing investigation into creation and destruction as complementary forces. This recent turn toward warm color marks a significant shift from decades of monochromatic black gunpowder works.

Medium
Gunpowder on canvas
Overall

Notes

White Cube solo presentation of Cai Guo-Qiang at TEFAF New York 2026, Stand 355, Park Avenue Armory, May 14–19, 2026. Framed: 27.3 x 27.3 x 7 cm.

For Sale — $40000

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About this work

Cai Guo-Qiang, Study for Uffizi: Small Piece No. 2, 2018

This small square canvas presents a luminous study in controlled destruction, where deep crimsons and dusty reds bloom across pale pink grounds. Diagonal streaks of charcoal and gunpowder residue cut through the composition like geological strata or weathered pathways, while soft halos of color diffuse outward from areas of darker concentration. The work exemplifies Cai Guo Qiang's signature technique of detonating gunpowder on canvas, a method that transforms explosive force into painterly gesture. The tension between the violence of the medium and the delicate chromatic result reveals the artist's long standing investigation into creation and destruction as complementary forces. This recent turn toward warm color marks a significant shift from decades of monochromatic black gunpowder works.

Medium
Gunpowder on canvas
Dimensions
overall: 25.4 x 25.4 cm
Year
2018
Seen at
White Cube, London, United Kingdom

Related themes

Powder Technique, Living Artist, Blue Chip, Performance Art, Color Study, Canvas Work, Gunpowder Painting, Mixed Media, Chinese Artist, Conceptual Art, Destruction Creation, Charred Surface, Small Format, Contemporary Painting, Abstraction, Red Palette, Contemporary Art, Explosive Medium, Abstract, Pink Tones

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