CHRISTO & JEANNE-CLAUDE

Christo (June 13, 1935 - May 31, 2020) and Jeanne-Claude (June 13, 1935 - November 18, 2009) were exceptional artists, so it's no surprise that almost everyone has heard of them. They also became known through their spectacular wrappings of buildings and monuments. These wrappings, however, make up only a portion of their work. Internationally, particular attention was drawn to the wrapping of the Berlin Reichstag in 1995 ("Wrapped Reichstag"), the wrapping of the Paris bridge Pont Neuf in 1985 ("The Pont Neuf Wrapped"), and the wrapping of the Bern Art Hall in 1968 ("Wrapped Kunsthalle"). The most recent building wrapping was carried out from September 18 to October 3, 2021: the wrapping of the Paris Arc de Triomphe ("L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped"). The idea by Christo and Jeanne-Claude to wrap this nationally important structure dates back to 1962. Christo and Jeanne-Claude wrapped buildings and monuments, but also everyday objects.Christo started working with wrappings as early as the 1950s: from 1958 onwards, the first wrapped objects appeared, in the series 'Packages and Wrapped Objects, 1958-1969.' Fabric plays an important role in these wrappings. Throughout art history, fabrics and textiles have fascinated artists: from the oldest examples of visual art to contemporary art, fabric or the imitation of it has been an important part of paintings or sculptures. Christo and Jeanne-Claude were always fascinated by the physicality of fabric and the possibilities it offers in artistic use. The wrappings by Christo and Jeanne-Claude are statements: by wrapping objects—whether things or buildings—they give them a new shape and emphasize them. This draws new attention to the wrapped objects and the themes they represent.The act of covering hides the familiar and transforms it. Think, for example, of the wrapped Berlin Reichstag: covered in flowing, shimmering fabric, the massive building suddenly gained something delicate, sensitive, poetic. Alongside the joint projects of Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Christo created artworks that come solely from his hand and are therefore attributed to him: sketches, drawings, models, collages, etc. With each new project, worldwide enthusiasm for the work of Christo and Jeanne-Claude grew, and the high demand is reflected in the price level of Christo's works. The fact is that at all levels of Christo's artistic creation in recent decades and years, price increases have been steady and significant, far surpassing most stock indexes.The sketches, drawings, models, collages, etc. by Christo are impressive works of art that capture the idea and vision of the projects perfectly – their value from an art historical perspective cannot be overestimated.