Coinciding with the event over Central Park, an installation of Cai's gunpowder drawings focusing on the artist's conceptual process, An Explosion Event: Light Cycle Over Central Park, will be on view at the Asia Society and Museum, September 9 - December 14, 2003. Melissa Chiu, Asia Society's Curator for Comtemporary Art will conduct a public discussion with the artist about his work on Wednesday, September 17, at 6:00 p.m. at Asia Society. The event is cosponsored by Creative Time and will be followed by a reception and viewing of the exhibition. An Explosion Event: Light Cycle Over Central Park: Asia Society presents an exhibition of gunpowder drawings by internationally renowned Chinese artist Cai Guo-Qiang. The artist has created this series of impressive large-scale drawings as studies for his "explosion" event in Central Park on September 15th (curated by Creative Time, the New York public arts organization) to celebrate the Park's 150th anniversary. This exhibition of drawings, presented in conjunction with the Central Park event, will be on view at the Asia Society and Museum from September 9 through December 14, 2003....The large-scale drawings--42 meters long and 4 meters high--are made by burning gunpowder on paper, a technique the artist has experimented with for nearly two decades while in China, Japan, and now in the United States, where he has lived since 1995. The effect resembles calligraphy while at other times it suggests abstract gestures....Gunpowder, which originated in ancient China, has always fascinated Cai as an artistic medium. In his you can arrange explosives as you please, you cannot control the explosion itself. And this fills you with a great feeling of freedom."....The different visual effects achieved within this sequence of drawings are remarkable, ranging from charred, dense gestures to wispy delicate lines. Divided into three sections, they are designed to correspond to the sequence of "explosions" devised by Cai for Central Park. These are; Signal Towers (pillars of light), The Light Cycle (a series of halos) and White Night (small shell explosions of brilliant white light). The exhibition at the Asia Society provides an insider's perspective on this important artist's work. The exhibition is made possible with support from Take A Step Back Collection, The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Stephanie Holmquist, and Patricia and Henry Tang. Full Release More Information Asia Society: The Asia Society is America's leading institution dedicated to fostering understanding of Asia and communication between Americans and the peoples of Asia and the Pacific. A nonprofit, nonpartisan educational institution, the Asia Society presents a wide range of programs including major art exhibitions, performances, media programs, international conferences and lectures, and initiatives to improve elementary and secondary education about Asia. The Asia Society is headquartered in New York City, with regional centers in Washington, D.C., Houston, Los Angeles, Hong Kong and Melbourne, Australia, and representative offices in San Francisco, Manila and Shanghai. 725 Park Avenue (at 70th Street), New York City. (212) 517-ASIA, www.asiasociety.org.