people with disabilities detonate paint-filled balloons using the power of their mind

artist jody xiong directs ‘the bloom’ installation for the 2022 winter paralympic 

For the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Paralympic held at the Bird’s Nest in Beijing on March 4th, Chinese artist Jody Xiong was invited by chief director Zhang Yimou to create a technologically-powered art installation called ‘The Bloom’. Xiong also directed his work into a short film that you can watch below. 

Inspired by the artist’s 2014 work titled ‘Mind Art’, the project brought together 12 disabled people around an 8-meter wide, circular canvas to create a colorful smiley face by detonating paint-filled balloons using the power of their minds. Yes, really — here’s how. 

detonating a series of paint-filled ballons using brainwave-capturing devices 

For ‘The Bloom’ installation, Xiong (see more here) invited participants to pick their favorite colored paint and fill them in balloons with detonators. Each person then wore a brainwave-capturing device that sent a signal to trigger the detonators, eventually getting paint to splatter all over the canvas. The colorful cocktail formed an abstract ‘smiley face’ meant to greet everyone who watches the film. ‘This experiment is an expression of the spiritual power of the disabled,’ notes the artist. 

‘The Bloom’ installation brings together 12 disabled people

To properly reflect the 2022 theme, Zhang Yimou organized a series of brainstorming sessions with Jody Xiong and other creatives, including international art master Cai Guoqiang. The result is an overturn of the original 2014 ‘Mind Art’ scheme, adding more impact and emotion to the performance carried out for the ‘The Bloom’ installation. 

each person wore a brainwave-capturing device that sent a signal to trigger the detonators

a splash of colors drops down after detonation

the colorful cocktail formed an abstract ‘smiley face’ onto a blank canvas

project info:

name: The Bloom
program: Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics
chief director: Zhang Yimou
creative director: Jody Xiong
producer: Shen Chen
art consultants: Cai Guoqiang, Joe Wang
executive producer: Li Zhiwei
CO director: Zhu Jinjing
assistant director: Feng Xiaotao

stylist: Cao Tingting
propsmen: Li JieXiong Xiong
choreography: Guo Xinnong, Zheng Bo, Hao Shanshan, Zhao Chenguang

science and technology engineer: Li Daquan
brain wave technology team: Shiyou Technology

photography director: Arden Tse
producer: Yao Guoqing
photography: Liu Yang

gags shooting: Wang Shuo

lead editor: Zhao Qi
online editor: Wei Na
TC: Yu Yongmei
3D: Hu Mo

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: lea zeitoun | designboom