Book Description
Christo and Jeanne-Claude were renowned environmental artists, famous for their large-scale, temporary public art installations. Christo, a Bulgarian-American artist, was originally named Christo Vladimirov Javacheff, while Jeanne-Claude, a French-American artist, was originally named Jeanne-Claude Denat de Guillebon. Their artistic collaboration began in the 1960s, and they became well-known for transforming natural and man-made landscapes into unique works of art.
Their works are typically monumental in scale, involving the wrapping or covering of existing buildings, bridges, or even entire natural landscapes. These installations are usually temporary and are removed after a certain period. Christo and Jeanne-Claude's projects have a close interaction with their surrounding environments, emphasizing the transience and dynamism of space. They view the environment as a canvas, creating breathtaking visual effects.
Notable works include Wrapped Reichstag (1995), The Gates (2005), and Pont Neuf Wrapped (1985).
The book Christo & Jeanne-Claude: The Gates, Central Park, New York City documents the creation of a monumental artwork completed by Christo and Jeanne-Claude in February 2005 in New York City's Central Park. Initially conceived in 1979, the project involved installing 7,500 16-foot-tall vinyl gates along the park's paths, from which saffron-colored fabric panels were hung. Viewed from the buildings surrounding the park, The Gates appeared as a flowing golden river, while those walking beneath them experienced the ambience of a fluid, golden ceiling.
This art project was entirely self-financed by the artists through their C.V.J. Corporation. All the gates and fabric were fabricated and assembled in local factories and installed by local workers, providing employment for thousands of New York City residents. This temporary art installation remained in place for 16 days, after which it was dismantled and the materials were recycled. The installation was free and open to all visitors, and the public could continue to use Central Park undisturbed throughout the entire process.
Details
Author: Wolfgang Volz (Author)
Publisher: TASCHEN
Dimensions: 35×27 cm
Binding: Paperback
Pages: 32 pages