L'ARC DE TRIOMPHE decorated like a present gift !
There exists no word “impossible” for Paris. The most eccentric, provocative, and daring ideas find their incarnation here. So happened with the idea of artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude. More than 20 years ago an unusual project came into the mind of this Bulgarian artist and his wife; to envelope one of the most emblematic monuments of Paris into polypropylene! Don’t ask me why. Who had ever revealed the mystery of the artist's soul?
In 2020 Cristo dies but the baby project of the couple finds its temporary place in the heart of Paris.
A self-funded project
Here are some numbers. The work required 25,000 square meters of recyclable bluish silver polypropylene and 3,000 meters of a cord of the same material, plus14000 million euros.
Like all artistic projects by Christo and Jeanne-Claude, L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped, Paris (1961-2021) is fully self-financed thanks to the sale of original works by Christo: collages, and drawings from this project.
History of the project
In 1961, three years after their meeting in Paris, Christo and Jeanne-Claude began to design and create temporary works for public space. The idea of packaging the Arc de Triomphe was born that same year. Christo produced, in 1962-63, a photomontage of this packaging, seen from avenue Foch, then, in 1988, a collage, before resuming and developing this project from 2017. 60 years later, this project will come to fruition.
The project was presented to the Center of national monuments by the Pompidou Center and received its support from the City of Paris. I should mention that the couple had already made the same thing with another ancient monument of Paris, The Pont -Neuf. The project had name Le Pont-Neuf empaqueté, Projet pour Paris, 1975-1985.
However, the event had attracted a lot of attention from the public. And had raised a lot of discussions as well. Society was divided into pros and cons.
Talking about the locals they were not very enthusiastic about the L'Arc de Triomphe covered like a birthday present. Someone even supposed it was because of the renovation works. Some of them mention ; «luckily it will not be lost long» But there are those who found it spectacular, though quite eccentric and unusual.
And you, what do you think?
To have your own idea I invite you to meet it in the flesh.
Here is some practical info
The meeting point is L'ARC DE TRIOMPHE this weekend, October 3. You can reach the monument with your entrance ticket from the sides facing avenues Kléber and Victor Hugo.
Note: Place de l'Etoile-Charles de Gaulle will be reserved for pedestrians during the three weekends of the presentation to the public starting the september 18 till the October 3, in order to allow visitors to enjoy it safely. The Champs-Elysées will normally be open to car traffic, with the exception of first Sunday of the month because of the operation "Paris Breathe". So, October 3 is just the perfect day to do it! Enjoy!
