Sale: 500 / Evening Sale, July 17. 2020 in Munich Lot 203

 

203
Christo
Wrapped Reichstag (Project for der Deutsche Reichstag - Berlin), 2-teilig, 1979.
Upper part: Color chalks over collaged city map...
Estimate:
€ 40,000 / $ 43,200
Sold:
€ 156,250 / $ 168,750

(incl. surcharge)
Wrapped Reichstag (Project for der Deutsche Reichstag - Berlin), 2-teilig. 1979.
Upper part: Color chalks over collaged city map. Lower part:Mixed media. Color chalks, charcoal and pencil over a collage with cloth, packthread and board.
Signed and dated "Christo 1979" in lower left of upper part. Titled and inscribed "Wrapped Reichstag (Project for der Deutsche Reichstag - Berlin) Platz der Republik, Reichstagplatz, Scheidemannstr. Friedensalle" in chalks in lower margin. Lower part inscribed with dimensions and construction notes. Both parts inscribed with hanging instructions on verso. Unique object. Upper part: 28 x 71 cm (11 x 27.9 in). Lower part: 56,5 x 71,5 cm (22,2 x 28,1 in).
Both in original plexiglass frame.
• "Wrapped Reichstag (Project for Berlin)" is one of the lately deceased artist's main projects.
• Particularly fine collage for the famous project.
• Unusual perspective with the quadriga of the Brandenburg Gate in foreground.
• With a high-contrast light effect and an impressive haptic presence
.

We are grateful to Mr Matthias Koddenberg, Studio of Christo and Jeanne-Claude, New York, for his kind support in cataloging this lot. The work is registered at the archive.

PROVENANCE: Sammlung Serge de Bloe, Brüssel (directly from the artist).
Private collection Southern Germany.

EXHIBITION: Christo. Christo und Jeanne-Claude. Zwei europäische Privatsammlungen und eigener Besitz, Galerie Pels-Leusden, Berlin, June 10 - August 26, 1995, cat. no. 51, illu on rear of cover.

The plans of the artist couple Christo and Jeanne-Claude to wrap the Berlin Reichstag building go back to 1972. The project was conceived and had been meticulously thought-out in many drawings and collages, although its realization remained unclear for a long time. Christo became fascinated with the project when he saw the lonely Reichstag building near the at death strip between East and West Berlin on a postcard in 1971. He promoted his "Project for Berlin" for over twenty years, but the public and political discussion over the ambitious wrapping project lasted for years. The ephemeral work of art was eventually realized in the summer of 1995, after the Federal Parliament in Bonn decided in favor of the project by a close cote at the end of a heated debate. The unique action in which a national monument became a temporary work of art and ultimately - a few years after reunification - an impressive symbol of German unity, aroused much admiration and public attention. Following the legendary wrapping event the German Parliament finally moved from Bonn to Berlin, making the historic walls the parliamentary center of the united republic. The early, two-part collage shows how meticulously Christo prepared the run of the custom-made fabric, the linking of the ropes and the drapery of the fabric as early as in the 1970s. What is also special about this work is the interesting perspective which shows the cropped Quadriga on top of the Brandenburg Gate in front of the glowing white of the covering fabric, thus once again recalling the special political significance of the monumental action. Thanks to the impressive combination of fabric, strings, collage and drawing, the special tactile presence of Christo's temporary actions is preserved can be experienced permanently. [JS]



203
Christo
Wrapped Reichstag (Project for der Deutsche Reichstag - Berlin), 2-teilig, 1979.
Upper part: Color chalks over collaged city map...
Estimate:
€ 40,000 / $ 43,200
Sold:
€ 156,250 / $ 168,750

(incl. surcharge)