Despite his passing, the master of land art continues to grace the world with his breathtaking large-scale installations, the latest of which has just taken over the Arc de Triomphe

Words by: Gilda Bruno

Art transcends space and time, moving beyond the obstacles that prevent us from aspiring to eternity and becoming one with the supernatural. Or, at least, that’s my first, most genuine reaction to the opening of L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped, Christo Javacheff (1935-2020) and his wife Jeanne-Claude Denat de Guillebon (1935-2009)’s posthumous artwork, on display in Paris between September 18 and October 3.

Originally scheduled to open in the fall of 2020 and postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions, the 60-years-in-the-making project consists of 25,000 square meters of recyclable blue and silver polypropylene fabric, skillfully combined with 7,000 meters of red rope to ‘package’ one of the most emblematic symbols of the French capital.

Christo and Jeanne-Claude The Pont Neuf Wrapped, Paris, 1975-85 — Photo: Wolfgang Volz © 1985 Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation

Already in 2019, Christo — the other half of the apple internationally known as groundbreaking artist duo Christo and Jeanne-Claude — had been granted permission to project his artistic vision onto the Arc de Triomphe; a masterpiece that instantly recalls yet another one of the couple’s sensational installations, namely the 1985 Pont Neuf Wrapped, an environmental piece of art that covered the bridge and its 44 street lamps in a sandstone-coloured fabric for the pleasure of over three million visitors in just two weeks time. 

Christo and Jeanne-Claude at Running Fence California, 1976 — Photo: Wolfgang Volz © 1976 Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation
Christo and Jeanne-Claude during the installation of 42,390 Cubic Feet Package Minneapolis, 1966 — Photo: Carroll T. Hartwell © 1966 Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation
Christo and Jeanne-Claude looking for a possible site for The Mastaba, a project for the United Arab Emirates. Photo: Wolfgang Volz ©
Christo and Jeanne-Claude in his studio with preparatory works for Surrounded Islands New York City, 1981 — Photo: Bob Kiss © 1981 Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation
Christo and Jeanne-Claude looking for a possible site for The Mastaba, a project for the United Arab Emirates. Photo: Wolfgang Volz ©
Christo and Jeanne-Claude in one of their most famous installations: the Pont Neuf in Paris, 1985
Christo and Jeanne-Claude in 1965. Photography by Ugo Mulas ©
Christo and Jeanne-Claude during the life-size test for Over The River, 1999 © Christo, photography by Wolfgang Volz
Christo and Jeanne-Claude. Photo: Wolfgang Volz © Sotheby's
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Berlin, Germany.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude at The Gates New York City, February 2005 — Photo: Wolfgang Volz © 2005 Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation
Christo and Jeanne-Claude scouting locations for the site of The Mastaba, October 2007. Photo: Wolfgang Volz ©
Christo and Jeanne-Claude on the site of Wrapped Coast Little Bay, 2007 — Photo: Bryan O'Brien © 2007 Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation
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Throughout their decades-long artistic collaboration and poignant romance, Christo and Jeanne-Claude, the proof that twin souls do in fact exist (both artists were born on 13 June 1935), travelled the world to adorn its most diverse destinations — from the Australian Coast (Wrapped Coast, Little Bay, Sydney, Australia, 1968–69) and the mountains of Colorado (Valley Curtain, Rifle, Colorado, 1970–72) to Kansas City’s Jacob Loose Park (Wrapped Walk Ways, 1978) and Central Park’s Gates (The Gates, Central Park, New York City, 1979-2005); whether this meant wrapping up the Roman Wall (The Wall—Wrapped Roman Wall, Via Veneto and Villa Borghese, Rome, Italy, 1973-74) or Berlin’s Reichstag building (Wrapped Reichstag, Berlin, 1971-95) — with the fruits of their visionary craft.

The artists first encounter, which took place in Paris, now home to their posthumous artwork, dates back all the way to 1958: the year in which Jeanne-Claude commissioned Christo with a portrait of her mother.

Christo and Jeanne-Claude with the finished project Valley Curtain, Rifle, Colorado, 1970–72, August 10, 1972, gelatin silver print, Shunk-Kender Photography Collection, Department of Image Collections, National Gallery of Art Library, Gift of the Roy Lichtenstein Foundation in memory of Harry Shunk and János Kender. © Christo. Photograph: Shunk-Kender © J. Paul Getty Trust. All Rights Reserved.

L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped (2021) is nothing but the latest gift that the artists had wanted to share with everyone who has had the pleasure to witness the unveiling of their incredible story. “All our projects deal with reality. You are exposed to real things: real sun, wind, rain, fear, joy. That is why these projects are bigger than our own imaginations,” reads a recent Tweet quoting Christo’s words on the official account of the artist duo.

“It will be like a living object that will move in the wind and reflect the light. With its moving folds, the monument’s surface will become sensual. People will want to touch the Arc de Triomphe,” commented the genius of land art on his latest masterpiece, also described as his ‘final wish.’

L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped (2021). Christo and Jeanne-Claude via Twitter
L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped (2021). Christo and Jeanne-Claude via Twitter
L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped (2021). Christo and Jeanne-Claude via Twitter
L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped (2021). Christo and Jeanne-Claude via Twitter
L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped (2021). Christo and Jeanne-Claude via Twitter
L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped (2021). Christo and Jeanne-Claude via Twitter
L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped (2021). Christo and Jeanne-Claude via Twitter
L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped (2021). Christo and Jeanne-Claude via Twitter
L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped (2021). Christo and Jeanne-Claude via Twitter
L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped (2021). Christo and Jeanne-Claude via Twitter
L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped (2021). Christo and Jeanne-Claude via Twitter
L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped (2021). Christo and Jeanne-Claude via Twitter
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Just like it happened for any other artwork produced by Christo and Jeanne-Claude, the project is entirely self-funded. The expenses for its realisation, estimated to reach 14,000,000 euros, will be covered through the auction of preparatory studies, collages and models of previously developed works, drawings as well as original lithographies developed by Christo himself. It is needless to say that, in line with the duo’s beliefs, no tickets will be required to “see, approach, and touch the work of art,” as also specified on their Twitter account. To make the Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped even more accessible to the public, and especially to pedestrians, Place de l’Étoile will be closed to vehicular traffic on the weekend.

In a recent interview published in the Brooklyn Rail and containing some of the last precious testimonials from the artist before his passing, Christo had revealed the key to their most successful — although several years in the making — artworks of all time.

“It is NOT patience! Jeanne-Claude always said passion,” the half of the artist duo had pointed out on that occasion when asked about what kept him and his wife motivated in the wait preceding the launch of their new pieces of art. Patience is a very banal thing. Some projects stay in our hearts; some we simply lose interest in. Each project has its own story and timing.” The same passion now running through the embellished volumes of the Arc de Triomphe, on display in Paris until October 3, 2021.

Christo and Jeanne-Claude in the courtyard of Christo’s temporary studio at Hüttenstraße 104 with “Wrapped Car (1963),” realized on the occasion of his solo exhibition at Galerie Schmela Düsseldorf, February 19, 1963 — Photo: Charles Wilp © 1963 Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation

You can watch the live stream of the installation on Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s official website.