99 animals flock together for cai guo-qiang exhibition

99 animals flock together for cai guo-qiang exhibition
(above) heritage 2013
99 life-sized replicas of animals, water, sand, drip mechanism; installed dimensions variable
commissioned for the exhibition ‘falling back to earth’, 2013; proposed for the queensland art gallery collection with funds from the josephine ulrick and win schubert diversity foundation through and with the assistance of the queensland art gallery | gallery of modern art foundation
photograph by natasha harth, queensland art gallery | gallery of modern art

cai guo-qiang
queensland art gallery | gallery of modern art (qagoma), australia
now through may 14th, 2014

encompassing all 3,000 square meters of GOMA’s ground floor is ‘falling back to earth’, a monumental, immersive exhibition by cai guo-qiang, encompassing both new and recent works reconfigured for the space. dramatic and explosive artistic explorations define the evolution of his ground-breaking practice, contemplating the complex relationship between humanity and nature through promising both spectacular and meditative installations.

cai guo-qiang
heritage 2013
99 life-sized replicas of animals, water, sand, drip mechanism; installed dimensions variable
commissioned for the exhibition ‘falling back to earth’, 2013; proposed for the queensland art gallery collection with funds from the josephine ulrick and win schubert diversity foundation through and with the assistance of the queensland art gallery | gallery of modern art foundation
photograph by natasha harth, queensland art gallery | gallery of modern art

amongst the chinese artist’s artwork presented for the first time is ‘heritage 2013’, a tremendous installation comprising 99 replicas of wild animals situated around the circumference of a water pool. lowering their heads into the crystal blue lake, the placed species stand on powder white sand and simulate a mass drink from the oblong reservoir filled with 170 tons of water. tigers, bears, zebras, giraffes and kangaroos illustrate ‘seemingly a peaceful gathering of predator and prey, the menagerie of heritage conveys an almost reverential solemnity, in a lyrical utopian vision loaded with uncertainty‘ describes russell storer, exhibition curator. influenced by the dramatic landscapes of southeast queensland, which the artist visited in 2011, the scene references the lakes of moreton bay’s islands. 

cai guo-qiang, china b.1957
heritage 2013
99 life-sized replicas of animals, water, sand, drip mechanism; installed dimensions variable
commissioned for the exhibition ‘falling back to earth’, 2013; proposed for the queensland art gallery collection with funds from the josephine ulrick and win schubert diversity foundation through and with the assistance of the queensland art gallery | gallery of modern art foundation
photograph by natasha harth, queensland art gallery | gallery of modern art

cai guo-qiang, china b.1957
heritage 2013
99 life-sized replicas of animals, water, sand, drip mechanism; installed dimensions variable
commissioned for the exhibition ‘falling back to earth’, 2013; proposed for the queensland art gallery collection with funds from the josephine ulrick and win schubert diversity foundation through and with the assistance of the queensland art gallery | gallery of modern art foundation
photograph by natasha harth, queensland art gallery | gallery of modern art

cai in his studio with an animal reproduction
photo by cai canhuang, courtesy cai studio

cai sculpts a bear for ‘heritage 2013’
photo by cai canhuang, courtesy cai studio

cai finishing details on an animal for the installation
photo by cai canhuang, courtesy cai studio

a signature of cai guo-qiang’s career, ‘head on 2006’ appears in australia for the first time for GOMA’s exhibition. 99 life-size sculptures of wolves race through the gallery space, leaping en masse into a glass wall.

cai guo-qiang, china b.1957
head on 2006
99 life-sized replicas of wolves and glass wall. wolves: gauze, resin, and hide; dimensions variable
deutsche bank collection, commissioned by deutsche bank ag
photograph by natasha harth, queensland art gallery | gallery of modern art

cai guo-qiang, china b.1957
head on 2006
99 life-sized replicas of wolves and glass wall. wolves: gauze, resin, and hide; dimensions variable
deutsche bank collection, commissioned by deutsche bank ag
photograph by natasha harth, queensland art gallery | gallery of modern art

cai guo-qiang, china b.1957
eucalyptus 2013
spotted gum (corymbia maculata), wooden stools, paper and pencils; length: 3150cm (approx.)
commissioned for the exhibition ‘falling back to earth’, 2013
photograph by natasha harth, queensland art gallery | gallery of modern art