Homeland

Christie's held it's first auction in Mainland China on September 26 in Shanghai. For the occasion, Cai created the gunpowder drawing, Homeland, depicting Cai's birthplace and hometown—the ancient city of Quanzhou. The drawing was ignited on-site on September 25, and it depicts ancient temples, banyan trees, distant mountains, and other historical buildings juxtaposed with Frank Gehry’s phantom-like museum.

The piece was sold for 15 million RMB and held the honor of being the most expensive drawing sold at the event. The proceeds of the sale will be used to benefit the Foundation for the Quanzhou Museum of Contemporary Art, a museum that Frank Gehry is designing for Cai's hometown in Quanzhou, Fujian province in southeast China.

Be certain to visit the Christie's website to see the entire creation process!

Images:

Homeland, gunpowder on paper, mounted on wood as 8-panel screen, 2013. Photo by Justin Jin, courtesy Cai Studio

Ignition of gunpowder drawing Homeland for Christie's first auction in Mainland China, Shanghai, 2013. Photo by Justin Jin, courtesy Cai Studio