When Vanity Erupts on the Roof of the World

What was meant to be an “artistic celebration” became a symbol of arrogance and hypocrisy. At 5,500 meters above sea level, artist Cai Guo-Qiang and outdoor brand Arc’teryx lit up Tibet’s Himalayas with a massive “Rising Dragon” fireworks display — in one of Earth’s most fragile ecosystems.

The irony is breathtaking: a brand built on love for the outdoors helped pollute the very wilderness it claims to protect. Social media erupted with anger, and Arc’teryx was forced to issue an apology, calling the event “deeply disappointing.” Cai, too, expressed regret — but only after the backlash.

This was not art honoring nature; it was spectacle consuming it. On the world’s highest ground, humanity once again proved that ego burns brighter than respect.

Click here for the report.