Christo and Jeanne-Claude: Wrapped Reichstag, Berlin, 1971-95: A Documentation Exhibition/Eine Dokumentationsaustellung

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The first work of art which was debated and voted on by an elected parliament

When Christo and Jeanne-Claude wrapped the German parliament, the Reichstag, in 1995, this was the completion of an 24 year long artistic process. Five million people came to see the unique work of art.

The exhibition and the book follow these 24 years in the life of the two artists documenting this process. Endless negotiations with deputies, officials and bureaucrats were needed to finally get the permit from the German Bundestag. It was the first work of art which was debated and voted on by an elected parliament even though it did not even exist yet. Years of technical preparation were needed to allow Christo and Jeanne-Claude to wrap the large Victorian building using 1 million square feet woven polypropylene fabric and 51.181 feet of blue polypropylene rope.

Christo and Jeanne-Claude : "For a period of two weeks in summer 1995, the richness of the silvery fabric, shaped by the blue ropes, creates a sumptuous flow of vertical folds highlighting the features and proportions of the imposing structure, revealing the essence of the Reichstag".