Firework displays are an art! By Claire Jourdet & Florine Charachon

People who create firework displays (spending many hours and much money in the process!) give huge performances to the delight of spectators. But, they are not considered artists. And why is a firework display not considered an art form in itself?

Fireworks are a class of explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic, cultural, and religious purposes. Fireworks competitions are regularly held everywhere. Fireworks take many forms to produce the four primary effects: noise, light, smoke and floating materials (confetti for example.) They may be designed to burn with flames and sparks of many colours, like red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, silver and gold.

The earliest documentation of fireworks is dated back to the 7^th century in China, where they were invented. They were used in many festivities. It is a part of the culture of China and many legends include fireworks. Important events and festivities such as the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) and the Mid-Autumn Festival were and still are times when fireworks are at the heart of celebrations. China is the largest manufacturer and exporter of fireworks in the world.

Fireworks play a key role in the most popular events of our modern world: an obvious example is the Olympic Games. In the opening ceremonies, fireworks are set off across the stadium when an athlete declares the games open. In the closing ceremonies, fireworks appear once again when the Olympic flame is put out. Fireworks are an unforgettable part of the event for hundreds of millions of people. They are artistic masterpieces surely?

Art is a diverse range of human activities and the products of those activities, usually involving imaginative or technical skill. According to this definition, fireworks and firework displays can be described as a real art form, and their creators as artists!

Some critics say fireworks are a way to burn money... But the pyrotechnic display that took place in broad daylight in Doha, Qatar, recently impressed all art lovers: Black Ceremony is the work of Cai Guo-Qiang, a Chinese national based in New York City and the world’s foremost fireworks artist. It kicked off his exhibition at the Arab Museum of Modern Art in the Qatari capital. He showed off his undeniable talent even though a daytime fireworks display might be considered by sceptics as an odd choice. The use of pastel-colours and black smoke made it an original performance. Cai also impressed millions of people with his fireworks display at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, and with his magnificent 4^th of July fireworks in New York City. And, as the fastest growing economy in the world, spending money on a daytime fireworks exhibit was no gamble for Qatar. Mayassa Bint Hamad al Thani, from the museum, said: “I thought it was spectacular. We are talking about doing a second show!”

Fireworks are at the heart of so many shows, paintings, photographs, and songs (like Katy Perry’s ‘Fireworks’ music video), it is about time firework “entertainers” were recognized as genuine artists!