Christo

Alexander Fils, Dusseldorf 

Kunsthandlung Wild, Lahr

Acquired from the above by the present owner

On June 24, 1995 a total of 90 professional climbers as well as 120 installation workers wrapped the Reichstag in Berlin. The wrapped Reichstag represents not only 24 years of efforts in the lives of the artists but also years of teamwork.

The Reichstag building was not only a sign of democracy but the seat of German parliament – it was covered with 100,000 square meters of silver - gray fabric and tied by 15 kilometers of blue rope. During the Cold War, the Reichstag was under the jurisdiction of both East and West Berlin authorities. Due to the tension between both governments, the project to wrap the building was rejected three times. It was only after the Reunification of Germany and the reinstatement of the Reichstag as the national seat of parliament that the project was accepted. Nearly a quarter of a century later.

By wrapping everyday objects, Christo deprived them of their actual function. The wrapping of the Reichstag brought certain softness and lightness to one of the greatest monumental powers. Christo wanted the wrapping to symbolize the unification of Germany. 

Receiving so many positive reactions, the project was asked to be extended. After the artists unwrapped the Reichstag, it was important to them that people understood that by making the wrapping only temporary it challenged peoples belief in the mortality of art. 

Even though the wrapped Reichstag was a temporary project, the present work makes it somewhat everlasting. Wrapped Reichstag (Project Berlin) shows a piece of fabric that was used to wrap the Reichstag accompanying the sketches for the project.