Christo Vladimorov Javacheff (1935-), a world-famous Land Art artist, has worked with Moroccan-American wife Jeannie-Claude (1935-2009) for numerous art projects. Although his wife Jenny Crowder died of illness in 2009, still does not reduce the creative spirit of this Bulgarian-American artist. Recently, Christo announced that he will be "wrapping" the Arc de Triomphe, one of the landmarks of Paris, France, next April.
This project "L'Arc de Triomphe Wrapped (Project for Paris, Place de l'Étoile-Charles de Gaulle)" is collaborated with Centre Pompidou and the Centre des Monuments Nationaux. At that time, the Arc de Triomphe will be wrapped with 25,000 square meters of blue recycled polypropylene fabric and 7,000 meters of red rope. The audience can witness this 14-day art project from April 6, 2020 to April 19.
In the press release issued on April 3 this year at the Pompidou Centre, Centre des Monuments Nationaux and the official website of Christo, announced that Chris had started the idea of project in 1962, and the plan has finally been implemented. This project will coincide with the exhibition of Christo and Jeannie-Claude at the Centre Georges Pompidou from March 18th to June 15th, showing their projects in Paris from 1958 to 1964, as well as the project “The Pont-Neuf Wrapped, Project for Paris”, which executed at Pont-Neuf in France from 1975 to 1985, responding the creative context of their projects that had carried out in France. The French government institution responsible for managing the Arc de Triomphe also announced that they are happy to see the realization of this project, saying that this project will demonstrate the historical connection between contemporary art and the Arc de Triomphe.
In keeping with the principle of not accepting any form of sponsorship in the past to preserve the freedom of creation, Christo's funding for this project is entirely funded by the sale of his preparatory studies of this project, including drawings, collages, scale models from 1950s, and the original lithographs he created in the 1950s on other subjects.
The 84-year-old Christo has continued his art projects after his wife's death. In 2013, “Big Air Package” in the Gasometer Oberhausen, Germany was his independent project. This artwork is not only the largest frameless inflatable airbag in the world, but also the most expensive indoor sculpture in the world. The sculpture, 90 meters high, 50 meters in diameter, 177,000 cubic meters in volume and 5,300 kilograms in total, is made of 20,350 square meters of translucent polyester fabric and 4,500 meters of polypropylene rope. Christo's art project has always been completed after years of planning and coordination with relevant departments.
The Arc de Triomphe is located in the center of the Charles de Gaulle Square in Paris, France, at the western end of the Champs Elysées. It was Napoleon's victory in commemorating the defeat of the Russian-Austrian coalition in 1805. It was ordered in the following year and was used as a symbolic landmark for the French army to greet the triumph in the future. . This art project believes that in addition to bringing in the crowds of the amazing creations of Christo, as well as adds another layer of contemporary significance to the Arc de Triomphe, which carries the glorious historical landmarks.
More details of artworks:
Christo and Jeanne-Claude 8/3-9/30
www.yicollecta.com/zh/collections/27
More Christo related article:
Christo & Jeanne-Claude
www.yicollecta.com/en/articles/77
Figure 1: Christo, L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped (Project for Paris) Place de l'Etoile – Charles de Gaulle, Drawing, 2019 in two parts, 15 x 96" and 42 x 96" (38 x 244 cm and 106.6 x 244 cm), Pencil, charcoal, pastel, wax crayon, enamel paint, architectural and topographic survey, hand-drawn map on vellum and tape. Photo: André Grossmann © 2019 Christo
Figure 2 left top： Arc de Triumphe, Wrapped (Project for Paris) Collage 1988 Pencil, fabric, twine, pastel, charcoal, wax crayon, map and Photostat 28 x 22" (71 x 56 cm) Photo: André Grossmann © 1988 Christo
Figure 2 top middle：Portrait image of Christo © 2019 Christo
Figure 2 right top：Wrapped Automobile, 2015, Lithograph and silkscreen with collage of broadcloth
Figure 2 left bottom：Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Wrapped Reichstag, Berlin, 1971-95. Photo: Wolfgang Volz © 1995 Christo
Figure 2 right bottom：Christo, Surrounded Islands (Project for Biscayne Bay, Greater Miami, Florida), Collage 1983 in two parts, Pencil, fabric, charcoal, wax crayon, pastel, enamel paint and aerial photograph, 11 x 28" and 22 x 28" (28 x 71 cm and 56 x 71 cm). Collection Betty and Joseph Fleming, Miami Beach, Florida, USA. Photo: André Grossmann © 1983 Christo
