"Surrounded Islands (project for Biscayne Bay, Greater Miami, Florida)"
Signed Christo and dated 1983. Diptych. Collage on panel, pencil, charcoal, crayon, pastel, map and bic pen. Mounted with plexiglass, 71.8 x 56.7 cm and 71.8 x 28.7 cm. A certificate of authenticity executed by the Estate of Christo V. Javacheff accompanies the lot.
Saleroom notice
A certificate of authenticity executed by the Estate of Christo V. Javacheff accompanies the lot.
Provenance
Acquired in 1983 by the present owner.
More information
The artists Christo (1935-2020) and Jeanne-Claude (1935-2009) worked together for over 50 years. Their enormous and astounding art projects of city and landscape elements made them world-famous. They mastered the whole creative process from idea and documentation to realization.
Before the projects were realized in full size, the artistic idea emerged in preparatory sketches, collages, drawings, and scale models. These works of art made in Christo's studio should be considered the most important steps in the creative process. All these steps have their own value and document the artistic development of the projects. The work in the auction Surrounded Islands (project for Biscayne Bay, Greater Miami, Florida) from 1983 is one such original work. It was possible to view the temporary project Surrounded Islands, which included eleven islands outside of Miami, for two weeks. 603,870 m2 of floating pink woven polypropylene fabric extended sixty-one metres out into the water from each of the islands. In order to keep the pink fabric taut, pipes were attached to the outer edges, which in turn were secured by anchors. In total 610 specially-made anchors were used, placed at fifteen metre intervals.
The work covering the eleven islands began on the 4th of May 1983. There were 430 people working on finishing the project, which was completed on the 7th of May 1983. Christo and Jeanne-Claude had already begun the preparatory stages in 1981 and it was funded entirely by the sale of their own art. They did not accept sponsorship money or other external funding, which was the case for all of the artist couple’s collaborative projects.
More about Christo & Jeanne-Claude
Christ (Born as Christ Vladimirov Javacheff), was a Bulgarian artist and Jeanne-Claude (born Jeanne-Claude Denat de Guillebon), were an artist married couple. Javacheff underwent his studies between 1953 and 56 at the Academy in Sofia, whereafter he continued his tuition in Wien. Yet, after only on term, the artist moved to Paris in 1958, where he lived stateless, having fled Bulgaria and lost his citizenship. He made a living by painting portraits, which he thought equated to prostitution. In 1958 he met his future wife, Jeanne-Claude and together they created “environmental art”. They famously "wrapped" the Reichstag in Berlin, the Pont Neuf in Paris, the 39 km long Running Fence in California, and The Gates in New York's Central Park. They deny that their exists any deeper meaning in their art beyond its aesthetic effect. Their intent was simply to create a different way of experiencing familiar "landscapes." None of their artworks were preserved, only the preparatory drawings and collages, which have given their art a legendary status. Projects were signed only "Christo" until 1994, when works from 1961 onward were also referred to as created by "Christo and Jeanne-Claude." Jeanne-Claude was born in Casablanca. She was educated in France and Switzerland and graduated in Latin and philosophy in 1952 from the University of Tunis. Jeanne-Claude passed away in 2009.
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The artworks in this database are protected by copyright and may not be reproduced without the permission of the rights holders. The artworks are reproduced in this database with a license from Bildupphovsrätt.
