CAI GUO-QIANG
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Tea Pavilion
2013 3
Tea houses are traditionally social spaces in China, not unlike Western cafés, where people from
different walks of life come together and share information.
Conceived by Cai Guo-Qiang, the
Tea Pavilion
2013 is a space where visitors can hear more about
the history and significance of Chinese tea, and it is also a place to reflect on the works on display
in ‘Cai Guo-Qiang: Falling Back to Earth’. Visitors can also participate in tastings and tea ceremonies
in the Tea Pavilion.
The artist Cai Guo-Qiang was born in Quanzhou, in Fujian province in southeastern China. Fujian
province produces over 50 kinds of tea, of which Tie Guan Yin is the most famous. Tie Guan Yin
tea is of special significance to Cai Guo-Qiang, as the artist explains:
‘My home province, Fujian, produces some of the best teas in China, especially known for
Tie Guan Yin, a type of oolong tea. Oolong is distinct from black and green teas due to its
unique production process, which only involves partial oxidation and fermentation. Tie Guan
Yin tea leaves are rolled up in to small balls (often described as ‘dragonfly head-shaped’)
and appear green with a white frost. The tea is gold in colour, tastes fresh with a lingering
sweetness, and bears a strong fragrance.
Tea drinking originated from China, and though nowadays the Japanese tea ceremony and
tea rooms are better known to the Western world, Chinese tea has its rituals as well. The way
to enjoy Tie Guan Yin typically involves small terracotta teapots and small teacups, and the
warming of each vessel with boiling water, the rinsing of the tea leaves and the discarding of
the water is unique to the brewing process. It is an art of its own, and I thought it would be nice
to introduce this special, relaxing way of ‘tea tasting’ (as we call it in Chinese) to people,
connecting my culture to the exhibition.’
Cold-pressed Tie Guan Yin tea is available at daily tastings, and
gongfu
tea ceremonies are held
most Sundays during the course of the exhibition.
Tea garden and the village of
Anxi, Fujian province, China /
Image courtesy: Getty Images/
iStockphoto / Photograph:
© Sean 2008
Tea Pavilion
2013
