'Rice Paintings' by Cai Yuan

We are thrilled to showcase the work of Cai Yuan, an accomplished artist who has been a valued member of our team at Blenheim Palace since 2016.

As a guide, Cai has shared his passion for art and history with countless visitors, enriching their experience of this historic site.

His unique perspective as both an artist and a guide has brought a depth of understanding to his role that we are proud to recognise.

Cai's story...

Cai Yuan was born in 1956, Nanjing, China and grew up during the Cultural Revolution. He studied at the Nanjing College of Art and emigrated to the UK in 1983. He gained a First Class Honours from Chelsea College of Art & Design and an MA in Painting from the Royal College of Art in London.

Cai has exhibited his work nationally and internationally, including at Tate Modern, the British Museum, the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Ashmolean Museum, Ullens Centre of Contemporary Art, Beijing, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Denmark, ZKM, Germany, and Gwangju Museum of Art, South Korea. He has participated in several international biennales, including Liverpool, Prague, Thessaloniki.

In the 1990s, he became known for his performance practice, which was widely publicised in the national media. He is co-founder of the performance duo Mad For Real and the Office of Contemporary Chinese Art (OCCA) and a trustee of the LYC Foundation. He co-organised the first touring exhibition of Chinese artists in Britain, Journeys West (1995).