Graphic shows construction process behind the wrapping of the Arc de Triomphe.
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ART

Arc de Triomphe wrapped as tribute to artist Christo

By Jordi Bou

September 18, 2021 - October 3, 2021 - The Arc de Triomphe in Paris is set to be wrapped in lustrous fabric as part of a posthumous installation by Bulgarian-born artist Christo. The project is the realisation of a dream spanning 60 years for Christo and his French wife, Jeanne-Claude, who first drew up plans to wrap the monument in 1961.

The monument will be swathed in 25,000 sq metres of silvery blue fabric and 3,000m of red rope.

The €14m installation will be swathed in 25,000 square metres of blue polypropylene fabric, covered with pulverized aluminium for a silvery sheen.

The fabric will be fastened with 3,000 metres of red rope in subtle suggestion of the colours of French flag.

Christo, whose full name is Christo Javacheff, was known for his larger-than-life installations. He wrapped up a stretch of coastline in Australia and the Reichstag parliament building in Berlin, and strung up a huge curtain in part of a canyon in Colorado. He worked closely with Jeanne-Claude on the projects.

The pair covered Paris's Ponf Neuf bridge in yellow cloth in 1975.

The temporary artwork, officially titled “L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped”, be unveiled, on Sep 18 and will remain up for 16 days, until Oct 3.

Sources
PUBLISHED: 20/08/2021; STORY: Graphic News; PICTURES: Wolfgang Volz © 2020-21 Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation, Gleistein, Getty Images
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