Christo and Jeanne-Claude - HANGZHOU TRIENNIAL OF FIBER ART

Christo and Jeanne-Claude

Christo and Jeanne-Claude

Bulgaria / USA & France / USA

The works of the artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude transcend borders, resist categorizing and embrace contradiction. Their creations, span great distances in populated landscapes, both rural and urban. Their work varied in form and ranged from wrapping public buildings to surrounding islands, albeit the common factor in most of their projects was the use of fabric.

Christo and Jeanne-Claude officially began to work together at the beginning of the 60s and spent their entire lives creating highly celebrated works of art across the globe, including The Gates (Central Park, New York City, 1979—2005) and Wrapped Reichstag (Berlin. 1971—1995.) Together, this unique and dynamic couple changed the concept of "public art" by creating temporary works that are truly transitory by design. Their projects often required decades to come to fruition and, through the proposal and installation phases, engaged communities in discussions on art and the environment.

The Mastaba
Copy of manuscript
1977-

The Mastaba, a project for Abu Dhabi, was conceived in 1977. The proposed location is inland, approximately 160 kilometers (100 miles) south of the city of Abu Dhabi in the desert of Liwa. The Mastaba will be 150 meters (492 feet) high, 300 meters (984 feet) long at the vertical walls and 225 meters (738 feet) wide at the 60 degree slanted walls. It will be the largest contemporary sculpture (in volume) in the world, made from 410,000 multi-colored barrels to form a colorful mosaic, echoing Islamic architecture.
In 1979, the artists visited the United Arab Emirates for the first time. They have returned many times since, creating a longstanding friendship with the people of Abu Dhabi.
The Mastaba will be Christo and Jeanne-Claude's only permanent, large-scale public artwork, and also their final project. Per Christo's wishes, The Mastaba will be carried out by his nephew Vladimir Yavachev, who has worked with the artists for over three decades and most recently directed L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped.

The Mastaba
Copy of manuscript
1977-

The Mastaba, a project for Abu Dhabi, was conceived in 1977. The proposed location is inland, approximately 160 kilometers (100 miles) south of the city of Abu Dhabi in the desert of Liwa. The Mastaba will be 150 meters (492 feet) high, 300 meters (984 feet) long at the vertical walls and 225 meters (738 feet) wide at the 60 degree slanted walls. It will be the largest contemporary sculpture (in volume) in the world, made from 410,000 multi-colored barrels to form a colorful mosaic, echoing Islamic architecture.
In 1979, the artists visited the United Arab Emirates for the first time. They have returned many times since, creating a longstanding friendship with the people of Abu Dhabi.
The Mastaba will be Christo and Jeanne-Claude's only permanent, large-scale public artwork, and also their final project. Per Christo's wishes, The Mastaba will be carried out by his nephew Vladimir Yavachev, who has worked with the artists for over three decades and most recently directed L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped.

The Mastaba
Copy of manuscript
1977-

The Mastaba, a project for Abu Dhabi, was conceived in 1977. The proposed location is inland, approximately 160 kilometers (100 miles) south of the city of Abu Dhabi in the desert of Liwa. The Mastaba will be 150 meters (492 feet) high, 300 meters (984 feet) long at the vertical walls and 225 meters (738 feet) wide at the 60 degree slanted walls. It will be the largest contemporary sculpture (in volume) in the world, made from 410,000 multi-colored barrels to form a colorful mosaic, echoing Islamic architecture.
In 1979, the artists visited the United Arab Emirates for the first time. They have returned many times since, creating a longstanding friendship with the people of Abu Dhabi.
The Mastaba will be Christo and Jeanne-Claude's only permanent, large-scale public artwork, and also their final project. Per Christo's wishes, The Mastaba will be carried out by his nephew Vladimir Yavachev, who has worked with the artists for over three decades and most recently directed L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped.

L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped
Video
Variable size
1961-2021

L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped, a temporary artwork for Paris, was on view for 16 days from Saturday, September 18 to Sunday, October 3, 2021. The project was realized in partnership with the Centre des Monuments Nationaux and in coordination with the City of Paris. It also received the support of the Centre Pompidou. The Arc de Triomphe was wrapped in 25,000 square meters of recyclable polypropylene fabric in silvery blue, and with 3,000 meters of red rope.
In 1961, three years after they met in Paris, Christo and Jeanne-Claude began creating works of art in public spaces. One of their projects was to wrap a public building. When he arrived in Paris, Christo rented a small room near the Arc de Triomphe and had been attracted by the monument ever since. In 1962, he made a photomontage of the Arc de Triomphe wrapped, seen from the Avenue Foch and, in 1988, a collage. 60 years later, the project was finally concretized.
L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped was entirely funded by the Estate of Christo V. Javacheff, through the sale of Christo's preparatory studies, drawings, and collages of the project as well as scale models, works from the 1950s and 1960s, and original lithographs on other subjects. It received no public funds.
The Eternal Flame, in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arc de Triomphe, continued to burn throughout the installation, display, and dismantling of the artwork. Per Christo's wishes, L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped was completed by his team after his death.

L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped
Video
Variable size
1961-2021

L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped, a temporary artwork for Paris, was on view for 16 days from Saturday, September 18 to Sunday, October 3, 2021. The project was realized in partnership with the Centre des Monuments Nationaux and in coordination with the City of Paris. It also received the support of the Centre Pompidou. The Arc de Triomphe was wrapped in 25,000 square meters of recyclable polypropylene fabric in silvery blue, and with 3,000 meters of red rope.
In 1961, three years after they met in Paris, Christo and Jeanne-Claude began creating works of art in public spaces. One of their projects was to wrap a public building. When he arrived in Paris, Christo rented a small room near the Arc de Triomphe and had been attracted by the monument ever since. In 1962, he made a photomontage of the Arc de Triomphe wrapped, seen from the Avenue Foch and, in 1988, a collage. 60 years later, the project was finally concretized.
L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped was entirely funded by the Estate of Christo V. Javacheff, through the sale of Christo's preparatory studies, drawings, and collages of the project as well as scale models, works from the 1950s and 1960s, and original lithographs on other subjects. It received no public funds.
The Eternal Flame, in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arc de Triomphe, continued to burn throughout the installation, display, and dismantling of the artwork. Per Christo's wishes, L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped was completed by his team after his death.

L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped
Video
Variable size
1961-2021

L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped, a temporary artwork for Paris, was on view for 16 days from Saturday, September 18 to Sunday, October 3, 2021. The project was realized in partnership with the Centre des Monuments Nationaux and in coordination with the City of Paris. It also received the support of the Centre Pompidou. The Arc de Triomphe was wrapped in 25,000 square meters of recyclable polypropylene fabric in silvery blue, and with 3,000 meters of red rope.
In 1961, three years after they met in Paris, Christo and Jeanne-Claude began creating works of art in public spaces. One of their projects was to wrap a public building. When he arrived in Paris, Christo rented a small room near the Arc de Triomphe and had been attracted by the monument ever since. In 1962, he made a photomontage of the Arc de Triomphe wrapped, seen from the Avenue Foch and, in 1988, a collage. 60 years later, the project was finally concretized.
L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped was entirely funded by the Estate of Christo V. Javacheff, through the sale of Christo's preparatory studies, drawings, and collages of the project as well as scale models, works from the 1950s and 1960s, and original lithographs on other subjects. It received no public funds.
The Eternal Flame, in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arc de Triomphe, continued to burn throughout the installation, display, and dismantling of the artwork. Per Christo's wishes, L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped was completed by his team after his death.