Pity Coronavirus delayed him from finally getting to wrap the Arc de Triomphe.
I always liked his Umbrellas installations.
Christo was a guy who knew what he wanted to do - specifically, cover stuff with other stuff - and did it. I respect that.
One of Christo’s early works was wrapping Little Bay, south of Sydney. I met a guy who had taken part in it as an art student flunky some 30ish years earlier. When he spoke about taking part, it was still like he’d just spent a week performing miracles with the angels, and was briefly transported back to being 20 years old and thoroughly in love with life.
Now that’s art!
I only saw the Reichstag installation in person, but it was very impressive and memorable.
Sad.
My favourite thing about Christo & Jean Claude is that they self-financed all their big projects beforehand. No public money*, no interference with their vision.
- Not that I’m against the public funding of art, mind you. I’m all for it. I just admire that they really stood by their artistic independence.
And yet his task still lives on, because there is still plenty of stuff - and I cannot emphasize this too strongly - not covered with other stuff.
In his memory, I shall go out this afternoon and drape my landlord’s vegetable garden in blue garbage bags.
RIP
His funeral should be epic…cover the entire graveyard with some interesting substance.
And that’s a wrap.
Hey, I’ve often heard it said that the objective of their art was to take away or accent what you took for granted, so you’d appreciate it more. I’m sure you’d be working in their vein.
Ya did good Christo, and even though I don’t think there’s an afterlife, I hope there is one for yourselves so you and Jean Claude can call attention to the things they take for granted there.
I saw this news last week and was very sad; Christo’s work has had enormous impact on me.
I grew up in South Florida and I saw Surrounded Islands with my own eyes from the highway, from a boat that was right there next to the islands and from the air. It was one of the most overwhelmingly beautiful things I have ever and will ever see.
The bolded part is accurate for me as well. I was moved to tears seeing Surrounded Islands in person and now, nearly 40 years later, I am still moved to tears remembering it.
His art was so large, so outsized, so bold and striking and absurd, all at the same time… a truly great artist creating truly wondrous art.
RIP Christo Vladimiro Javacheff; you done good.