On May 31, 2020, the Bulgarian-born artist Christo, known for massive environmental public arts projects wrapping buildings and famous landmarks in fabric or plastic with his wife Jeanne-Claude, has died in New York, aged 84. As early as April 30, 2020, the artist had announced to postpone L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped, to 2021 due to the pandemic in the official account on Facebook.
L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped was postponed due to the pandemic.
Screenshot from Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s Facebook account.
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 will finally be concretized.
Christo during the first life-size test for "L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped" at the headquarters of Les Charpentiers de Paris
Bagneux, October 16, 2019
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Photo: Wolfgang Volz
?2019 Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation
Christo in his studio working on a preparatory drawing for L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped
New York City, September 20, 2020
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Photo:Wolfgang Volz
?2020 Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation
Christo in his studio working on a preparatory drawing for L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped
New York City, September 21, 2019
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Photo: Wolfgang Volz
??2019 Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation
L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped, a temporary artwork for Paris, will be on view for 16 days from Saturday, September 18 to Sunday, October 3, 2021. The project will be realized in partnership with the Centre des Monuments Nationaux and in coordination with the City of Paris. It also receives the support of the Centre Pompidou. The Arc de Triomphe will be wrapped in 25,000 square meters of recyclable polypropylene fabric in silvery blue, and with 3,000 meters of red rope.
Christo
L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped (Project for Paris) Place de l'Etoile – Charles de Gaulle
Drawing 2020 in two parts
Pencil, charcoal, pastel, wax crayon, enamel paint, architectural drawing, map, and fabric sample
38 x 244 cm and 106.6 x 244 cm (15 x 96 in and 42 x 96 in)
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Property of the Estate of Christo V. Javacheff
Photo: André Grossmann
?2020 Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation
Christo
Arc de Triumphe, Wrapped (Project for Paris)
Collage 1988
Pencil, fabric, twine, pastel, charcoal, wax crayon, map, and Photostat
71 x 56 cm (28 x 22 in)
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Private collection
Photo: André Grossmann
?1988 Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation
L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped is 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 receives no public funds.
The Centre des Monuments Nationaux, the government institution that manages the Arc de Triomphe, is pleased about the realization of a project that demonstrates its commitment to contemporary creation and that honors one of the most emblematic monuments in Paris and in France.
Ropes are being installed to secure and contour the fabric on the Arc de Triomphe
Paris, September 13, 2021
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Photo: Matthias Koddenberg
?2021 Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation
The Eternal Flame, in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arc de Triomphe, will continue to burn throughout the installation, display, and dismantling of the artwork. As always, veterans' associations and volunteers committed to the values of the French Republic will ensure the continuity of remembrance and the daily ceremony of rekindling the flame that pays homage to the Unknown Soldier and those who lost their lives fighting for France.
Fabric panels are being unfurled in front of the outer walls of the Arc de Triomphe
Paris, September 12, 2021
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Photo: Matthias Koddenberg
?2021 Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation
Fabric panels are being unfurled in front of the outer walls of the Arc de Triomphe
Paris, September 12, 2021
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Photo: Benjamin Loyseau
?2021 Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation
Fabric panels are being unfurled in front of the outer walls of the Arc de Triomphe
Paris, September 12, 2021
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Photo:Wolfgang Volz
?2021 Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation
Fabric panels are being unfurled in front of the outer walls of the Arc de Triomphe
Paris, September 12, 2021
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Photo:Matthias Koddenberg
?2021 Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation
Fabric panels are being installed underneath the small vaults for "L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped"
Paris, August 25, 2021
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Photo: Wolfgang Volz
2021 Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation
Christo and Jeanne-Claude have always made clear that their artworks in progress be continued after their deaths. Per Christo's wishes, L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped will be realized by his team.
It is reported that the exhibition “The Final Christo: Orginal Works for the Arc de Triomphe” will take place at Sotheby’s Paris from September 18 to October 3, 2021. The exhibition will display 25 works to tell the story of Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped from early dream to final, posthumous realization.
Screenshot from “Christo and Jeanne-Claude: L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped – Live View”
Christo and Jeanne-Claude: L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped – Live View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbfUY7LDw9s
Edited by CAFA ART INFO.
Courtesy of the artist’s team and the organizer, for more information, please visit:
https://www.sothebys.com/en/digital-catalogues/the-final-christo
https://christojeanneclaude.net/artworks/arc-de-triomphe-wrapped/
