Renowned Contemporary Artist Cai Guo-Qiang Stuns Los Angeles with Daytime Fireworks Show
LAPost, Los Angeles (September 16, 2024) — On September 15, internationally renowned contemporary artist Cai Guo-Qiang, in collaboration with Getty Center and the University of Southern California (USC), held a large-scale daytime fireworks and drone show at the LA Memorial Coliseum. The event, attended by over 5,000 spectators, showcased a spectacular “daytime fireworks” performance that left Los Angeles in awe. Notably, this was the world’s first AI-powered daytime fireworks show, with all the pyrotechnic products made using organic, sustainable pigments and dyes.
Cai Guo-Qiang and his team at the scene (Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)
Titled WE ARE: A Blast for PST ART, the fireworks show was co-created by Cai Guo-Qiang and his custom-designed multimodal AI model, CAI™ (pronounced AI Cai). The show, a perfect blend of traditional fireworks art and modern technology, delved deeply into the relationship between humanity and AI, while also marking the opening of USC’s fourth PST ART: Art & Science Collision exhibition.
The show was executed by Cai and his fireworks team from Liuyang’s Tanghua Fireworks, involving over 50,000 computer-controlled fireworks, 2,000 drones, 3,164 bamboo poles loaded with explosives, and hundreds of mortar tubes. Despite the technical complexity, Cai remained composed, stating that feeling uneasy before a creative endeavor is beneficial. “Such emotions prompt you to reflect and anticipate the unknown, even failure,” Cai remarked.
Audience members wait to watch the show on the center lawn of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)
Spectators watched the “collision of art and science” from the central lawn of the stadium, while Cai and his team operated from a command station on the track nearby.
The event kicked off at 5:30 PM, with a shot by USC football player Denis Lynch, followed by a drone formation hovering above the Coliseum’s Olympic torch. The drones first spelled out “cAI™,” then reformed to outline the 12 Chinese zodiac animals, each leaving behind trails of black smoke. On the stadium screens, AI-generated words like “Humavisor” and “Synthview” appeared, synchronized with precise fireworks explosions, resembling sparks dancing across the sky.
The show then moved to the interior of the stadium, where thousands of computer-controlled mini “blossom shells” were embedded throughout the seating area. These shells created dynamic patterns such as “Snake,” “Human Mask,” “Synthview,” “Logic Textile,” and “Echo Confrontation,” as they formed a grand explosion matrix. Thousands of bamboo poles, strategically placed in the stands, ignited circular sparks and colorful smoke in different sections of the stadium. On Cai’s command, a lightning-like “serpentine” firework was released, winding around the seating area like a traditional dragon, drawing gasps from the audience.
“Fire stealing” moment (Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)
As drones spelled out “WE ARE” in the sky, a spectacular fireworks display was triggered by a bolt of lightning. Cai titled this segment Stealing Fire, a reference to the Greek myth of Prometheus, who stole fire from the gods to bring enlightenment to humanity.
Fireworks moment (Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)
In the next segment, titled Birds of Paradise, volcanic eruptions of tropical-colored smoke spiraled around the stadium, soaring into the sky to form a mesmerizing cloud of vibrant hues. This was Cai’s tribute to Los Angeles, stunning both the audience inside and outside the venue.
Fireworks moment (Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)
The climax of the show, titled Wrath of Heaven, posed a profound question: “Is humanity stealing fire by creating AI? Are we stealing ‘heavenly secrets’ and risking divine wrath?” Thunderous explosions echoed through the sky, with the thick smoke evoking a mysterious, powerful force.
After the performance, Cai Guo-Qiang happily embraced his friend Dominic Ng and accepted congratulations (Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)
After the performance, Cai Guoqiang (left) took a photo with his Fujian compatriot, long-time friend, and famous actress Zhang Jingchu. (Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)
Cai Guo-Qiang’s fireworks show took the fusion of AI and art to new heights, offering not just a visual spectacle but an immersive experience that explored the intersection of technology and humanity’s future. Since 2017, Cai has been researching AI, and he believes that “AI is not just a revolutionary tool, it’s a revolution in itself.” To him, AI represents the convergence of art and science.
Deconstructivist architect Frank Gehry (left) and Tian Pujun pose for a photo next to Cai Guoqiang’s team’s workbench (Photo by: Dora Liu)
USC President Carol Folt (left) and East West Bank Chairman Dominic Ng pose for a photo before the performance. (Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)
Before the fireworks show, a reception was held at the Founders Hall of the Coliseum. Notable attendees included famed deconstructivist architect Frank Gehry, USC President Carol Folt, East West Bank Chairman Dominic Ng, entrepreneur Ming Hsieh, Hollywood producer Luo Yan, Wendi Murdoch, forensic scientist Henry Lee and his wife, Pan Shiyi and actress Zhang Jingchu, producer Tian Pujun (MeMe), Jennifer McCormick, Board Member, Otis College of Art and Design. The event also attracted other prominent figures from across the U.S.
From left: Cai Guoqiang’s wife, Wendi Murdoch, Ming Hsieh’s wife, and Hollywood producer Luo Yan met at a reception before the performance (Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)
Cai Guo-Qiang, who was the fireworks designer for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, creating the iconic “footprints” in the sky, and the designer of the Welcoming Pine fireworks at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, brought the same level of grandeur to this show. Audience member Jennifer Dong said in an interview, “This show reminds me of Cai Guo-Qiang’s amazing performance at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. I hope we’ll see his work again at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.”
USC President Carol Folt (center) shared her feelings with friends after the performance. (Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)
From Left: Ryan Cheng, Lisa Luo, Jingchu Zhang (Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)
From the start of the performance, social media was flooded with photos and videos of the fireworks, with the buzz continuing long after the event. Short films capturing the show, produced by renowned Chinese-American director Qi Binying and young photographers Tang Zirou and Chen Xinyu, garnered widespread acclaim.
Young filmmaker Wang Yilin, who attended the event, shared her thoughts: “This fireworks show was unlike anything I’ve ever seen. When Cai counted down ‘3, 2, 1,’ it felt like he was igniting something much larger than fireworks—something alive and full of energy.” She added that the Wrath of Heaven segment was an intense sensory experience, with the contrast between the deafening explosions and the gentle imagery creating a surreal feeling.
Tina He, founder of BiAn Culture, wrote on social media, “Today, the entire Los Angeles sky was boiling. Cai Guo-Qiang’s ‘We Are’ fireworks + AI performance lit up the city’s sky!”
This event, reportedly costing $20 million, offered free tickets to the public through an online platform. Each release of tickets was snapped up within seconds, with social media guides for how to grab a ticket going viral. On the day of the performance, many spectators gathered on the lawn outside the stadium to enjoy the show from different vantage points, capturing numerous stunning scenes. (By: Richard Ren/LAPost)
Rachel Rivenc, Head of Conservation at Getty Research Institute and lead curator of the exhibition Cai Guo-Qiang: A Material Odyssey (Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)
(Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)
