“A World Odyssey” by Cai Guo-Qiang x Hennessy

Cai Guo-Qiang is no strange name to those who admire largescale, site-specific art. Known for his range of unique firework installations, particularly with his direction for the opening and closing ceremony at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Cai will be working with Hennessy this September for the 15-minute piece, “A World Odyssey”.

More than just a collaboration to celebrate Hennessy X.O’s 150th anniversary, the event is designed to uplift the global community with energy and support, amidst the current pandemic. Inspired by Nietzsche’s “The Birth of Tragedy”, Cai will be using exclusively non-toxic, reduced-smoke, CE-certified pyrotechnic products to create three different acts. Striving to embody the eternal cycle of creation, destruction, and the human spirit, the installation will perform itself much like a theatrical performance.

“We are now entering a new chapter of humankind’s strenuous odyssey. The signal from Cognac, travelling through cloud infrastructure, connects individuals from different parts of the world, enabling primeval passion to burst and form a community of shared future that is closely bonded with nature and art. While the fireworks express my contemplation on tragedy, art, and the essence of life, I hope the audience will draw inspiration from the fireworks in order to reconcile with nature and find the power to heal.”

Cai Guo-Qiang

Like Cai’s other works, expect it to explode with multicolored drama, poetry, color, and emotion, but this time, also with 150 oak barrels floating on the Charente River to echo the brand’s anniversary. Not to mention, this will be the first project for Cai where he will be producing a daytime firework against an aquatic environment, to be broadcasted live to the global audience.