ICYMI: Chinese Artist Created This Stunning 'Stairway To Heaven' For His Grandmother

Chinese-born Cai Guo-Qiang, a highly acclaimed “explosives artist” has already gained some remarkable records. According to Smithsonian Magazine, he may be the first (and only) artist in history to have had one billion people look at one of his artworks at the same time. That was when Qiang’s “fireworks sculpture” for the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony in 2008 was aired across the world. Then, in 2015, he created and lighted a “stairway to heaven” in honour of his grandmother’s 100th birthday.

It was an ode to his grandma, who had always encouraged him to pursue his artistic career. The 1,650-foot (or 502-meter) “Sky Ladder,” according to the report by Vice, was invisible because it was made of explosives that had been loaded with copper wire. He set it ablaze while perched in a hot air balloon.

According to the Daily Mail, the balloon, made of a special material, was released from a boat off the coast of adjacent Huiyu Island. The video was reshared on social media platform X on May 14 garnering more than 2 million views.

Commenters were amazed by the stunning presentation.

A user wrote, “That’s impressive what a display.”

Another user said, “What an incredible tribute. What incredible skill.”

“This is creativity at its peak!”, said another user.

The artwork piqued so much curiosity that Netflix produced a documentary about the masterpiece. According to the Vice report, Cai made three attempts to execute his idea. In 1994, he attempted it once before, but the preparations were derailed by severe winds. He attempted again in 2001 but Shanghai officials denied him permission following the 9/11 attacks.

On June 15, 2015, this 80-second display took place in Quanzhou City, China’s southeast Fujian Province. The New York-based artist is well-known for his expansive installations and has a long history of incorporating explosions into his artwork.

He told Smithsonian magazine, “My family lived in Quanzhou, across the strait from Taiwan,” where the mainland government planned to reintegrate the island into China. There, artillery batteries were frequently heard shooting into the mist. “These were my first experiences of explosions. ”

According to Cai, who spoke with Daily Mail, his grandmother was raised in a Quanzhou fishing town and sold fish to support her grandson’s aspirations to pursue his artistic career.

His grandmother watched the entire performance over the phone as she was ultimately too sick to experience it in person, according to Science Alert. A month later, she passed away.