Radiance of Spring by Cai Guo Qiang

An exploration in several times and spaces to introduce the theme of the Normandie Impressionniste 2026 festival, "A possible garden".

RADIANCE OF SPRING

Don't miss the discovery of a series of powder paintings created especially for this exhibition! Ranging from Monet's garden at Giverny and the Impressionist Valley to the changing landscapes of Normandy surrounding Mont-Saint-Michel, these works radiate spring light. The vibrant paintings imbue the guest room with a sense of natural lightness, enlivening the space with a temporal and spiritual energy, while interacting with the dense history and devotional atmosphere of the abbey's architecture.

This series of paintings is accompanied by a documentary film recounting the artist's creative process and his ongoing dialogue with Impressionism.

THE GARDEN OF EXPLOSIONS

Experience the art of Cai's explosions! Seven projection zones radiate like streaks of light from a central explosion. These zones show documentary videos of explosion events selected by Cai from around the world. This section functions as a "corridor of the cosmos of gunpowder", where the global trajectories of Cai's explosions respond to Mont-Saint-Michel.

Directed by Shanshan Xia, the video shows a performance that, rather than recreating impressionistic imagery in the sky, responded to the changing conditions of wind, water, daylight and clouds specific to that moment. Both an interaction with the landscape and a process of reciprocal discovery with the pyrotechnic medium, the performance welcomes chance and explores the balance between chaos and mastery, in order to extend and transform Impressionist methodology.

FINAL BLOOM

Finish with a poetic and unexpected encounter, like an ode to nature, with a final bloom: a porcelain floral sculpture set ablaze with coloured powder...

Cai Guo-Qiang studied stage design in Shanghai. After living in Japan, he moved to New York, where he still lives. Known for his gunpowder works, spectacular explosions, installations and creations using AI, he has created more than 653 exhibitions and projects, including retrospectives at the MET, Guggenheim, Prado and the Palace Museum in Beijing. His major works include Sky Ladder (2015) and The Last Carnival (2025). He also contributed to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games as director of visual effects and fireworks.