Christo and Jeanne-Claude#Wrapped Reichstag
The Wrapped Reichstag (English original title Wrapped Reichstag ) was an art project by the artist couple Christo and Jeanne- Claude. Within the project, the realization lasted from 1971 to 1995, the Reichstag building in Berlin was completely veiled from 24 June to 7 July 1995 aluminized polypropylene fabric.
Realization history
Planning and Preparation
In October 1961 Christo in Paris for the first time expressed the desire to be a public building, primarily to conceal a parliament or prison. At the beginning of the 1970s, Christo received unexpected post from the Berlin-based American Michael S. Cullen, who proposed the wrapping of the Reichstag in Berlin. The artists showed interest and asked Cullen to deal with the procurement of the necessary permits. Cullen tried, but he did not succeed, and also the artists themselves first, to pave the way for the realization.
The decisive change took place in the early 1990s, after the fall of the Berlin Wall. In 1991, the German Bundestag President Rita Süssmuth spoke out for the realization of the project and informed the artist couple, it would " help to realize your dream to conceal the Reichstag building, ". The team for the implementation of the project was at the time of Christ, Jeanne- Claude, Mike Cullen and three other friends. To be in Berlin to be mobile, they are addressed in a van up an office, should be coordinated from the works of the.
It soon became apparent that the situation was more difficult than first assumed, as there were many opponents addition to the numerous supporters of the project. This was to retune it in their mind what the project team put on numerous letters and conviction to individual audiences bat - especially the members of the Bundestag and the Berlin Senate.
The persuasion was as follows: First, the reasons for the project were explained. These were to be found in the work of art in itself. It itself is a unique experience of outstanding beauty and implementation. This brings the pleasant side effect with it, that the positive mood that are being taught by widerspiegle in the reaction of the viewer. The second point concerns the financing. The necessary funds were, as with any project by the artist couple benefits form only through the sale of Christo's original works ( sketches, models, drawings, collages, lithographs, previous work, etc.). The third and final point concerned the argument of the opponent, the projects of the artist couple would have a greater impact on the environment. All materials used were recycled after dismantling and thus recycled.
Through their lobbying the artists their sheer fixed for the February 25, 1994 Bundestag debate with subsequent vote on the realization of the project. The deputies decided by 292 to 223 votes for the implementation and thus in favor of the artist. Prior to an exhibition of photographs, drawings and collages of works by the artist couple also was held to inform the public and to win for themselves.
Implementation
After obtaining the approval of the Wrapped Reichstag GmbH was founded over from that date all transactions were handled. The items of the commercial and the technical director were awarded, engaged lawyers and contracted an engineering firm with the technical implementation. After a total of ten companies were selected that were responsible for the production and delivery of materials.
As Christo and Jeanne- Claude " the aesthetic climate in which the audience understand and accommodate their work can " even produce, the biographer, Jacob Baal - Teshuva is of the opinion that " technical and statistical details essential for their projects are "; he calls as compared to rock music and generally the Post Modern Art, for the thematic and substantive issues were often more important than stylistic. For this reason, the history along with the technical details of particular importance for the project Wrapped Reichstag. Overall, the artists needed 109,400 m² polypropylene fabric that has been woven by the German company Schilgen and steamed ROWO of coating with aluminum, 15,600 meters blue polypropylene rope and 200 tons of steel for the substructure.
Since the process of concealment itself was a work of art, were Christo and Jeanne -Claude from the outset to use cranes, Hebsteiger or scaffolding. They wanted the wrapping work is done by people. Therefore additional 90 professional climbers had to be committed, the completed this work.
After many hours of hard work and some minor glitches and problems veiling on June 24, 1995 was completed. The 13- million dollar work of art was seen alone on the last day according to the police of 500,000 visitors. On July 7, was finally begun to reduce. A total of about five million people visited in the two weeks of the existence of the artwork. The entire mask material, as promised recycled after dismantling.
Work material substance
Particular attention must be paid to the work material substance in the work of Christo and Jeanne- Claude. Christo wrote in a press release about the project Wrapped Reichstag: "The whole history of art through materials and fabrics have fascinated the artist. From the oldest examples of fine art through to contemporary art, the structure of fabrics - drapery, pleated blinds, draperies - an important part of paintings, frescoes, reliefs and sculptures in wood, stone and bronze. The Wrapped Reichstag with fabric webs follows this classical tradition. Fabric panels - like the clothes or skin - have something tender and sensitive, they illustrate the unique quality of the ephemeral "In addition, the fabric of nature in the work of art integrates, as the wind changed the drape and the metallic surface reflects the color of the sky. . This leads to a combination of art and nature.
Reception and interpretation
Christo and Jeanne- Claude created with the Wrapped Reichstag project a work of art that also brought enormous socio-political potential with next to the aesthetic value. The Wrapped Reichstag illustrated by the turn of the progressive thinking of the Berlin because he attacked traditional values such as humility before historically important buildings in an impressive, artistic way, and thus the prime example personified for a fresh start.
Christ explained the importance of the temporary character:
"No one can buy these projects, they have no one, no one commercialize, no one can demand admission for their tour - not even belong to us these works. Our work is about freedom, and freedom is the enemy of all claim possession, and possession is synonymous with life. That is why the work can not last. "
The artists rebel against the commercialization of art. While the works of most artists are acquirable and can be possessed, the art of Christo and Jeanne- Claude is only temporary and can by anyone who has the leisure to do, be considered free and without barriers.
The non-attached MEPs Ulrich Briefs brought the importance of the project for Germany during the debate before the vote to the point: " The veil is at least - has this value it - a spectacular action against national and against other German philistinism. " Frankness Duve of the SPD added: " Let us prove this new German democratic serenity through a great symbol for 14 days. Then we go with great pleasure and with great seriousness in the converted Reichstag ".
In addition to the supporters there were also many enemies who tried during the parliamentary debate retune the proponents, such as Wolfgang Schäuble of the CDU, "A Wrapped Reichstag - Burkhard Hirsch has said it - but would not not merge one, they would polarize. " Eike Ebert of the SPD said tersely :" Ladies and gentlemen, something you simply do not "!
For Gerhard Buchholz, the former speaker of the Berlin Tourismus Marketing GmbH ( BTM), presented the wrapping of the Reichstag and the Tourism, on " the greatest event since the fall of the wall " dar.
Internationally gained Wrapped Reichstag much attention, so there is about a mention of the project in an episode of the popular U.S. comedy series The Simpsons (surprise for Springfield, Season 10, Episode 19 ) from the year 1999, the family man Homer Simpson is looking for inspiration for his new career as an artist, after his daughter Lisa told him about Christo and Jeanne -Claude's projects. The poet Peter Hacks commented simply: "A madman wrapped cloth around a house. "
Image rights
At the end of the project, a dispute broke out between the two artists and a Berlin postcard publisher, the sales postcards with motifs of the wrapped Reichstag without consent of the artist. The publisher relied on the so-called " freedom of panorama " (§ 59 of the German Urherberrechtsgesetzes ), according to the recordings of works which are permanently located on public ways, streets or places, may be produced and distributed without the consent of the author. The publisher pointed out that there was the artwork for his entire lifetime in a public place. Christo and Jeanne- Claude sued the publisher for an injunction because they believed that their work would not be classified as ' consistently '. The Federal Court confirmed on 24 January 2002, the conception of the artist, as there had been the Art Project Wrapped Reichstag to a time-limited presentation. It was pointed out that images of the project, although can not be shown publicly without a license, recordings for private purposes and for the reporting of current events, however, are exempted from this rule.
Gallery
Hoods
Hoods
Structure of the steel substructure
Substructure
Substructure
Substructure
Steel beam to anchor the panels