Christo

Wrapped Building, Project for #1 Times Square

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from $ 10,500

Wrapped Fountain

Selection

from $ 10,500

Wrapped Reichstag XIII

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from $ 1,890

Wrapped Reichstag XIV

Selection

from $ 1,890

Background Information about Christo

Introduction

Art by Christo and Jeanne-Claude is unmistakeable, whether it entails wrapping up the German Reichstag or creating floating, pink fabric borders for Floridian islands. When these artists cover monuments with their fabric, they create entirely unique sights. “It’s not about hiding, it’s about emphasising”, Christo explains.

Although the installations are temporary, they do leave some lasting legacies: Sketches and collages of the projects, drafted ably by Christo, tell the story of these remarkable visions. The ideas at the heart of Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s work reappear before our eyes.

The project “Wrapped Fountain”, planned for La Fontana de Jujol in Barcelona’s Plaza d'Espana, was conceived in 1979. The collage dates from the year 2009, but the project remains unrealised. Complete with labels and plans, the sketch provides an insight into both the fountain and the planned, wrapped artwork. Another project, also unrealised, is presented in the lithograph “Wrapped Building, Project for #1 Times Square”.

In an interview with the German magazine, Die Zeit, Christo described the theory behind the wrapping: “Our artwork mirrors reality, that’s why I am so fascinated by it. We are showing real life, but are not doing this in a museum or on a stage. Our projects are not theatrical performances.” The unique artistic ability and extraordinary impact of the duo’s work shines through, even in the sketches. The monumental structures appear bold yet delicate.

Jeanne-Claude and Christo met in Paris in 1958. In 1995, the pair wrapped Germany’s parliament building, the Berlin Reichstag, and the project drew over 5 million visitors, making it one of the most-visited pieces of contemporary art in the world.

Hannah Hör

Bio

Christo Vladimirov Javacheff

1935	Born in Gabrovo, Bulgaria
1953 - 1957	Studied Art in Sofia, Bulgaria and Paris, France
	Lives and works in New York City, USA

Jeanne-Claude Denat de Guillebon

1935	Born in Casablanca, Morocco
1952	Studied Latin and Philosophy at the University of Tunis, Tunisia
2009	Died in New York City, USA

Christo & Jeanne-Claude

1961	First collaboration: “Stacked Oil Barrels and Dockside Packages”, Cologne Harbor, Germany
1968	“5,600 Cubicmeter Package”, documenta IV, Kassel, Germany
1983	“Surrounded Islands”, Biscayne Bay, Florida, USA
1985	“The Pont Neuf Wrapped”, Paris, France
1995	“Wrapped Reichstag”, Berlin, Germany

Awards

2014	Theodor Heuss Award from the Theodor Heuss Foundation, Stuttgart, Germany
2007	Outstanding Achievement in Public Art, Alliance of New York State Arts Organizations, USA
2005	Doris Freedman Award, New York City, USA
2004	Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture Award, International Sculpture Center, Hamilton, New Jersey, USA
2003	National Arts Award, New York City, USA
1996	Award for Distinction in Sculpture, Sculpture Center, New York City, USA
1987	Kaiserring – Goslar City Art Award, Germany

Collections

Tate Britain, London, UK
Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, Australia
Centre Pompidou, Paris, France
Museum Ludwig, Cologne, Germany
Sprengel Museum, Hanover, Germany

Exhibitions

Solo Exhibitions

2013	OP + POP, Staatsgalerie Stuttgart, Germany
2012	Poesie der Reduktion – Minimal, Concept, Land Art, MUMOK, Vienna, Austria
2004	Christo and Jeanne-Claude from the Roof: “The Gates” Project in Central Park, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, USA
2003	Approaching Objects, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York City, USA
2001	Christo und Jeanne-Claude, Martin-Gropius-Bau, Berlin, Germany
1998	Premises – Invested Spaces in Visual Arts, Architecture and Design from France, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York City, USA
1997	Deep Storage – Arsenale der Erinnerung, Neue Nationalgalerie Berlin, Germany
1987	Christo – Surrounded Islands, Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst, Ghent, Belgium
1984	Christo – Arbeiten zum Surrounded-Islands-Projekt, Neue Nationalgalerie Berlin, Germany
1978	La Biennale di Venezia, Venice, Italy
1977	documenta VI, Kassel, Germany
	Christo - The Running Fence, Kestnergesellschaft, Hanover, Germany
1972	documenta V, Kassel, Germany
1968	documenta IV, Kassel, Germany
	Christo Wraps the Museum, Museum of Modern Art, New York City, USA
1966	Christo – Storefront, Leo Castelli Gallery, New York City, USA