In need of some inspiration for your festive firework display? Look to Chinese contemporary artist Cai Guo-Qiang, who uses gunpowder as a tool to create floating paintings in the sky. In June this year, the Yotsukura Beach in Iwaki City, Japan, was the stage for When the Sky Blooms with Sakura, his 30-minute, daytime installation featuring 40,000 choreographed firework shells between the sea and the sky.

Made with support of Saint Laurent, the 400 metre-wide artwork represented his belief in reawakening dreams of hope for the region, which has suffered from the effects of an atomic bomb, the tsunami and a recent earthquake. Blue and black waves gave a nod to the pain of the past, while blooming clouds of iridescent colours suggested a brighter future.

“Through the sakura in the sky, I was expressing the story of the friendship between the people of Iwaki and me, which transcends politics and history, and I hope that the artwork will inspire the world with faith and hope,” said the artist, who lived in the Japan for many years. The Wick is resharing it on New Year’s Eve to spread hope and joy in 2024. We wish a happy New Year to all!