Christo - vendere e comprare opere
13 June 1935, Gabrovo (Bulgaria) – 31 May 2020, New York (USA)
13 June 1935, Casablanca (Marocco) – 18 November 2009, New York (USA)
Behind Christo and Jeanne-Claude is hidden the Gesamtwerk (complete work) of the artists Christo Vladimiroff Javacheff and Jeanne-Claude Denat de Guillebon. The artist duo became famous for their monumental and ephemeral installations in public spaces.
The couple met in Paris in the 1960s, after Christo fled Bulgaria in 1965 and moved first to Vienna and two years later to Paris. From an early age, Christo was surrounded by artists whom his family had taken in as refugees during the Second World War. In the 1950s, he decided to study art at the National Academy of Art in Sofia, since he always had a passion for drawing.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude socialised with the protagonists of the European and American avant-garde, including Karlheinz Stockhausen, John Cage, Joseph Beuys and Nam June Paik. Under the influence of Nouveau Réalisme and a progressive art scene, breaking with all conventions Christo began appropriating everyday objects by stripping them of their function by covering them up. His approach was direct, immediate and radical. Similar to Arman, Christo initially used small found objects. He first wrapped cars or furniture and then turned to large-scale installations with Jeanne-Claude. Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s work broke down the traditional boundaries of painting, sculpture and architecture.
The two settled in New York in 1964. Originally, they signed their works “Christo”. Since 1994 they changed their signature to “Christo and Jeanne-Claude”. Christo drew, while Jean-Claude took care of the realisation of the monumental projects. Additionally, she represented the artist in public. The significance of their art lies not only in the realization of a project, but in its entirety, from the planning to the journey to the completion.
Their most famous installations include the wrapping of the Pont-Neuf in Paris, the Reichstag in Berlin and most recently, realised by Christo’s nephew, the wrapping of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris – places of historical significance or political relevance. By temporarily removing monuments and buildings from view, Christo and Jeanne-Claude paradoxically increased their presence and relevance. The couple financed the realisation of the numerous projects by selling the many preparatory works, drawings and models that Christo had produced. Many projects were never realised, but the associated sketches give an idea of what other ideas the artist duo had.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s work is characterised by the use of fabrics, cloths and textiles: fragile, sensual and ephemeral materials that express the temporary character of the art works. In their impressive, monumental installations, Christo and Jeanne-Claude see themselves fulfilled as environmental architects.