The Allegory of 99 Wolves
Posted by filteany on March 27, 2008
Cai Guo-Qiang’s exhibit in the Guggenheim Museum is an ambitious display of artistic talent. He was inspired by the omnipresence of German history particularly of the Berlin Wall. The title work Head On names one of his exhibitions showcasing art in its magnificent physical form. The installation consists of a pack of 99 life- sized wolves barreling in a continuous stream towards and into a constructed glass wall. Cai Guo-Qiang emphasizes the allegory of the people ages ago who struggled and failed to break down the Berlin Wall. It is stupefying to internalize that an artwork depicting an unpleasant part of history; is meticulously mesmerizing.
I had the privilege of seeing Cai Guo-Qiang’ s exhibit last Sunday and until now, I am still experiencing collective thoughts about it. Gunpowder, fiberglass, painted sheepskins and metal wires are among his media to bring life to allegories. Personally, I have a strong affinity with allegories. I like to fathom them as situations that require a second look thus entailing deeper contemplation. The feeling of being under the stream of suspended wolves is likened to being in a vortex that pulls you naturally. I found myself staring at a fallen wolf in front of the glass wall; feeling its diminished strength and the sadness of its failure. How can a wolf be so far from a human experiencing frailty? Art is indeed mirroring life.
I Want to Believe is Cai Guo-Qiang’ s general name for this exhibit. Four strong words that people are often scared to utter. A possible explanation would be the effect of inevitable failures as we tread through life. We have different means to cope with the disaster of our blunders. Some accept defeat as a pattern of their existence, others thrive yet remain broken and few stand up unscathed. Inspite of our differences, we have a common denominator which is We are All Destined to Fail. Harsh way to put it but nevertheless, we are beautifully defined by our frustrations, battles and even by our sorrows. This is the allegory that we would carry until our last breath. Our ability to succeed and fail simultaneously are indications that we live up to our nature. We are born survivors. To be called a survivor is to undergo and overcome struggles.
Head On has engraved a permanent mark on my psyche. I still have long years to carry on my back. Perhaps, life is full of allegories that we constantly have to be metacognitive to fathom the purpose of our existence. I would always remember the wolves crashing into that glass wall. The beauty of Cai Guo-Qiang ‘s art has added to my appreciation of the complexities surrounding us. His 99 wolves are definitely more than meets the eye.
Note:
JP… the person who took time to accompany me to the museum. I am eternally grateful to. It would always be a pleasant memory added to my cove of knowledge.
