christo will wrap paris' arc de triomphe with silvery blue fabric

christo has unveiled plans to wrap the arc de triomphe in paris in 25,000 square meters of silvery blue polypropylene fabric. the temporary public artwork, entitled ‘l’arc de triomphe, wrapped (project for paris, place de l’étoile-charles de gaulle),’ will remain on view from september 18 until october 3, 2021. the fabric, which will be fully recyclable, will be held in place by 7,000 meters of red rope. ’35 years after jeanne-claude and I wrapped the pont-neuf, I am eager to work in paris again to realize our project for the arc de triomphe,’ says christo.

christo | the arc de triomphe, wrapped, place de l’etoile, charles de gaulle, paris
collage 2019 | 11 x 8 1/2” (28 x 21.5 cm)
pencil, wax crayon, enamel paint, photograph by wolfgang volz and tape
photo: andré grossmann © 2019 christo

in 1961, three years after christo met jeanne-claude — his life and artistic partner who passed away in 2009 — the couple began creating works of art in public spaces. one of their projects was to wrap a public building. at the time, christo, who was renting a small room near the arc de triomphe, made several studies of a project there, including, in 1962, a photomontage of the arc de triomphe wrapped. almost 60 years later, the project will finally be realized.

christo | the arc de triumph (project for paris, place de l’etoile – charles de gaulle)
wrapped drawing 2018 | 30 1/2 x 26 1/4″ (77.5 x 66.7 cm)
pencil, charcoal, pastel, wax crayon, enamel paint and tape on brown board
photo: andré grossmann © 2018 christo

the realization of the artwork will be previewed by a major exhibition at the centre georges pompidou, from july 1 until october 19, 2020, retracing christo and jeanne-claude’s years in paris from 1958 to 1964, as well as the story of the pont-neuf wrapped, which the duo realized in 1985. meanwhile, the centre des monuments nationaux, the government institution that manages the arc de triomphe, welcomes the project, which ‘honors one of the most emblematic monuments in paris and in france.’

christo | the arc de triumph (project for paris, place de l’etoile – charles de gaulle) wrapped
collage 2018 in two parts | 12 x 30 1/2″ and 26 1/4 x 30 1/2″ (30.5 x 77.5 cm and 66.7 x 77.5 cm)
pencil, charcoal, wax crayon, fabric, twine, enamel paint, photograph by wolfgang volz, hand-drawn map and tape
photo: andré grossmann © 2018 christo

throughout the entire period when the artwork is on display as well as during its preparation, the space beneath the arc de triomphe where the holy flagstone lies and where since 1923 the eternal flame has burned in front of the tomb of the unknown soldier, will be fully maintained. as always, associations, charity workers and volunteers committed to the values of the french republic will take turns to ensure the continuity of souvenir and memory, and to proceed with daily ceremony of rekindling the flame and of paying homage to the unknown soldier with the appropriate solemnity.

christo | the arc de triumph, wrapped, project for paris, place de l’etoile, charles de gaulle
collage 2018 in two parts | 30 1/2 x 26 1/4” and 30 1/2 x 12″ (77.5 x 66.7 cm and 77.5 x 30.5 cm)
pencil, charcoal, wax crayon, fabric, twine, enamel paint, photograph by wolfgang volz, hand-drawn map and tape
photo: andré grossmann © 2018 christo

as with all of christo’s projects, ‘l’arc de triomphe, wrapped’ will be entirely funded by the artist through the sale of his preparatory studies, drawings and collages of the project as well as scale models, works from the 1950s and 1960s and original lithographs on other subjects. it will receive no public or private funds.

christo | l’arc de triomphe, wrapped (project for paris) place de l’etoile – charles de gaulle
drawing 2019 in two parts | 15 x 96″ and 42 x 96″ (38 x 244 cm and 106.6 x 244 cm)
pencil, charcoal, pastel, wax crayon, enamel paint, architectural and topographic survey, hand-drawn map on vellum and tape
photo: andré grossmann © 2019 christo