Artist Cai Guo-Qiang uses gunpowder to paint, instead of brushes. Now how fun and dangerous is that? Gunpowder and fire actually make good abstract work on canvas!

Cai Guo-Qiang's technique is kind of exciting. He covers a black canvas with gun powder and strategically laid out bits of cardboard, a giant stencil is then laid over the entire piece before the wick is lit.

After that, assistants rush in to extinguish the remaining flames. It leaves unique patterns and designs that weren't planned in the first place. Of course, we'd like to remind you that you shouldn't do this at a place where there aren't any fire retardents. Or under the supervision of someone who knows how to put fires out. Small or big.

[Cai Guo-Qiang via NPR]