christo: floating piers open in lake iseo, italy

christo’s ‘floating piers’ installation is finally open to the public. the highly-anticipated reveal sees 100,000 square meters of shimmering yellow fabric wrap a floating dock that connects various points on italy’s lake iseo. undulating with the movement of the waves, visitors can now experience ‘the floating piers’ as they walk from sulzano to monte isola and to the island of san paolo, which it completely encircles. the 3 kilometer-long walkway extends clear across the water, with surrounding mountains offering a bird’s-eye view of a golden network of passageways that lead in and around the town. the fabric continues along 1.5 kilometers of pedestrian streets in sulzano and peschiera maraglio.

‘the floating piers’ opens to the public on june 18th
photo by wolfgang volz © christo

the concept for ‘the floating piers’ was conceived by christo and jeanne-claude — the artist’s creative and life partner — in 1970. however, the couple originally did not know which river or lake would best suit the project. early, unrealized renditions proposed a 2,000 meter-long inflated pier on the delta of the rio de la plata in argentina. by 1995, the idea was still active in the artists’ minds. they suggested the creation of two floating piers, 150 meters-long and covered in fabric, which would connect two artificial islands in tokyo bay and continue through odaiba park. this iteration was also unrealized following the denial of a permit.

pedestrians begin to make their way along the fabric in the streets
photo by wolfgang volz © christo

jeanne-claude passed away in november 2009, but christo continues the couple’s monumental practice. in 2014, the artist and his team scouted the lakes of northern italy and found lake iseo to be the most inspiring location for the project. the exhibition is presented for just 16 days, following which, all components will be removed and industrially recycled.

the towns of sulzano and peschiera maraglio are covered in yellow fabric
photo by wolfgang volz © christo

the artists’ aim has always been to create works of art for the public to experience and enjoy, without charging any viewing fees. ‘like all of our projects, ‘the floating piers’ is absolutely free and accessible 24 hours a day, weather permitting,’ christo says. ‘there are no tickets, no openings, no reservations and no owners. the floating piers are an extension of the street and belong to everyone.’

see sketches and drawings of ‘the floating piers’ by christo in our previous coverage of the installation here.

‘the floating piers’ photographed the day prior to its opening
photo by wolfgang volz © christo