Biggest Daytime Fireworks Show Ever -- Mathaf Opening of Cai Guo-Qiang: Saraab

At the Arab Museum of Modern Art in Doha, Qatar this week, Chinese artist Cai Guo-Qiang put on his largest "explosion event" of the last three years, utilizing microchip-controlled explosives to form incredible designs and patterns. The video we've embedded of the event is an impressive testament to how a volatile black powder explosion can be controlled and shaped by computer.

Each set of explosions was calculated to paint a different picture. One series of explosions created black smoke clouds that looked like "drops of ink splattered across the sky."

In another, 8,300 shells embedded with computer microchips exploded in a pyramid shape over the desert.

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[frni]

My favourite bit was when he missed everything.

[mikefromkollab]

when i die....this what is what I want my ashes to be used for.

[xgokux16]

Love this!

[Booger6995]

Actually this is performed by a Chinese pyro artist.

[Booger6995]

OK there chief. Please explain to us why they aren't fireworks. This should prove to be entertaining if nothing else.

[suitzoot]

Hi Nate, congratulations you're in the running for the worst camera-work in the history of youtube!

[Lovely19Lynn92]

Exactly what I thought

[lovbug909]

1:33 suddenly dementors

[Defenseman61913]

I approve of these shenanigans

[Jerry Giesler]

I counted 41 on 1:11 too.

[Jerry Giesler]

1:11, burst of propellants before it go BOOM! :D

[Robert Smith]

Great ! I have some innovative ideas about daytime fireworks using smoke too. Thank God these artists have not thought of what I have in mind before me. I am an American , I mention it because this is an event out of my country and from another culture.