Main Fountain Garden | Fireworks & Fountains (2017) by Sam MarkeyLongwood Gardens
Humans have a long history of sending sparks and explosions into the sky. Scroll on to 'ooh' and 'aah' at four fantastic fireworks experiences.
Fire-Works on the Night of the Fourth of July (1868) by Winslow HomerDavison Art Center, Wesleyan University
1. 'Boom' on the Fourth of July
The United States of America has celebrated Independence Day every Fourth of July since the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Fireworks are a traditional part of the celebrations, delighting and astounding in equal measure, as this Winslow Homer etching shows.
And this year you can launch the rockets yourself in a virtual fireworks display. Can you keep in time with the music? Click here to play the game. Hopefully you'll be more impressed than this disgruntled gent!
I am an Extraterrestrial: Project for Meeting with Tenjin (Heavenly Gods): Project for Extraterrestrials No.4 (1990) by Cai Guo-QiangFukuoka Asian Art Museum
2. Painting with gunpowder
Fireworks originated in China, where New Year's celebrations and the Moon Festival in autumn have a rich and explosive history. Tapping into this tradition is the contemporary artist, Cai Guo-Qiang, who works with gunpowder.
Whether he's mixing gunpowder to create paints (much like Leonardo da Vinci once did), or painting with explosions in the sky, Guo-Qiang's work turns heads! Scroll on to watch a video about his work and process...
Cai Guo-Qiang and da Vinci: painting with Gunpowder #OnceUponaTry
Festa del Redentore 2016Youth Committee of the Italian National Commission for UNESCO
3. Floating fireworks in 360 degrees
Festa del Redentore in Venice commemorates the end of a plague in the 16th century, and features a bridge of floating fireworks! Decorated barges form a temporary link to the Church of Redentore, and fireworks are set off along its length.
Scroll down for a 360-degree immersive experience of this festival of water and fire.
Lord Rama Returns to Ayodhya (2020) by Avishek Mukherjee
4. The many lights of Diwali
Diwali, the Hindu festival of light, has a colorful and varied history. Many of today's celebrations involve elaborate and stunning firework displays.
You can experience the festival online by discovering the many legends of Diwali, celebrating in Augmented Reality, exercising your artistic talents with a virtual coloring book, and many more delights with Diwali @ Home.
You are all set!
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