Christo & Jeanne-Claude
"Two lower Manhattan wrapped buildings, project for New York"
Lithograph in colours and with collage of fabric, thread and city map, 1980, signed in pencil and numbered 5/99, printed by La Polígrafa, Barcelona, published by Ediciones Poligrafa, Barcelona. I./S. 70 x 54,5 cm.
Literature
Schellmann/Benecke 106.
More information
Christo's tight work schedule caused a delay of six years in the completion of this edition, which Polifgrafa had paid for and planned to published in 1974 when Christo needed funds for Running Fence.
Artist
Christ (Born as Christ Vladimirov Javacheff), was a Bulgarian artist and Jeanne-Claude (born Jeanne-Claude Denat de Guillebon), were an artist married couple. Javacheff underwent his studies between 1953 and 56 at the Academy in Sofia, whereafter he continued his tuition in Wien. Yet, after only on term, the artist moved to Paris in 1958, where he lived stateless, having fled Bulgaria and lost his citizenship. He made a living by painting portraits, which he thought equated to prostitution. In 1958 he met his future wife, Jeanne-Claude and together they created “environmental art”. They famously "wrapped" the Reichstag in Berlin, the Pont Neuf in Paris, the 39 km long Running Fence in California, and The Gates in New York's Central Park. They deny that their exists any deeper meaning in their art beyond its aesthetic effect. Their intent was simply to create a different way of experiencing familiar "landscapes." None of their artworks were preserved, only the preparatory drawings and collages, which have given their art a legendary status. Projects were signed only "Christo" until 1994, when works from 1961 onward were also referred to as created by "Christo and Jeanne-Claude." Jeanne-Claude was born in Casablanca. She was educated in France and Switzerland and graduated in Latin and philosophy in 1952 from the University of Tunis. Jeanne-Claude passed away in 2009.
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