Established in 1895, Venice Biennale is one of the most famous biennales in the world as well as the oldest one, often considered the Olympics of the art world. The 54th Venice Biennale will run from 4 June through to 27 November in the Giardini and Arsenale venues, Venice. As one of the five artists elected to attend this year’s art festival, the most recent creation by Cai Zhisong entitled “Cloud” will be on display in this art festival. With the use of specialist techniques, this piece of work will float at the entrance of the Chinese pavilion and automatically rise and fall according to temperatures, sunshine and other weather variations. Visitors can walk through freely among the clouds, producing a feeling of emptiness and Zen.

Following the series of “Motherland” and “Rose”, “Cloud” is one of Cai’s most important works which belongs to his third series of “Cloud” and other related works all of which will be completed soon. This piece has been successfully accomplished after working day and night for 63 days. It has been transported to Venice and other works will follow it shortly.

It’s reported that in May and July, 2011, Cai Zhisong will also have his works exhibited at both the Indonesia National Museum and German Regensburg Museum. After July 2011, his solo exhibition entitled “Cloud” is going to be held at ODEOART CONTEMPORARY in Singapore.

Program A of “Cloud”

Emptiness and Zen

Material of the Body: Dried white peony flowers on the surface and silk mesh and plastic inside.

After spraying glue on the surface, then two layers of peony petals are stuck on top. On top of the first level, transparent glue paste is sprayed to create a second layer. After that, transparent and matte air paint is sprayed on the other levels which ensures there is both the texture of dried flowers and anti-corrosion from the weather

Thickness: 3mm.

Number of works: 10.

Dimensions: Maximum 700×400×300cm (Reduction in sequence)

Location: Filled with helium, 5-7 pieces at 2 to 5 meters high above the lawn, 1 piece above the eaves, 1-2 beyond the roof of the Chinese pavilion, 4 pieces at 20 to 50 meters high above the Chinese pavilion and the lawn.

On the mobility of “Cloud”: clouds in the sky, above the roof and near the walls will not leave the show site as they are fastened with connecting points. Three pieces above the lawn will not flow far since they are surrounded by high buildings and trees. When there is a wind, they might be carried away from the venue, because the internal gas is helium which has the equivalent proportion as air but they will only move horizontally or float around. Clouds automatically rise or fall according to temperature, sunshine and other weather variations.

Program B of “Cloud”

Works are constituted by clouds on the ground and floating in the sky.

Dimensions of main clouds: 700×680×350cm

Material of the Body: Stainless steel sprayed with white paint with invisible anti-rain holes. Hang Wind chimes are hung from inside with steel balls filled with Chinese Longjing Tea at the bottom of them. They are suspended above the ground by a magnetic force with chimes swinging when blown by the wind. As tea inside is stirred by the ball, the scent of tea comes out with the swinging sound of chimes.

Dimensions of floating clouds: 220×200×120cm, 2-10 pieces (Reduction in sequence)

Material of floating clouds: Cotton incensed by China Longjing Tea shaped on the surface of white gas bags. Filled with helium and sprayed a little white paint on the top of the outside, they are increased in sense of hierarchy and improved in lightness, which will also ensure the dissemination of their aroma. Since the proportion of helium and air are almost the same, the clouds will float with the wind without rising or falling. Clouds placed 2-4 meters high in the sky will allow people walk under them.

They are built in front of the Chinese pavilion to construct an atmosphere of emptiness and Zen.