Sale: 351 / Post War, June 20. 2009 in Munich Lot 136

 
Christo - Wrapped Reichstag (Project for den deutsche Reichstag - Berlin)


136
Christo
Wrapped Reichstag (Project for den deutsche Reichstag - Berlin), 1978.
Black and white photograph
Estimate:
€ 20,000 / $ 21,600
Sold:
€ 24,400 / $ 26,352

(incl. surcharge)
Lot: 136
Christo
1935 Gabrovo/Bulgarien - lebt und arbeitet in New York
Wrapped Reichstag (Project for den deutsche Reichstag - Berlin). 1978.
Black and white photograph, photograph with Tipp-Ex, ballpoint pen, ink pen on cardboard, mounted on stretcher.
Signed and dated lower right, titled in centre, with several inscriptions in left and upper edge. 23,8 x 30,4 x 2,5 cm (9,3 x 11,9 x 0,9 in).

PROVENANCE: Aquavella Galleries, New York (with label on verso)
Galerie Achenbach, Düsseldorf.
Private collection North Germany.

Since 1971 Christo and Jeanne-Claude had been trying for a permit to wrap up the Reichstag Building. They set out their vision in collages, drawings and models. Our work dating from 1978 attests to the long phase of work that went into convincing the authorities to grant them permission for what they had in mind. The artists encountered tough, long-drawn-out resistance. Politicians were worried they might make the Reichstag and its members look ridiculous by wrapping it up. Finally Chancellor Helmut Kohl intervened and yielded in 1994 to the artists’ persistent blandishments after a vote in the Bundestag. Following a positive vote, the Reichstag Building was wrapped up for two whole weeks in 1995. The artists themselves bore the costs: 15 million dollars, which were made up from selling the collages and drawings they had produced during the work process. [SM]

In good condition.

EUR: 20.000 - 25.000DIFF.(19%)
US$: 27.280 - 34.100




136
Christo
Wrapped Reichstag (Project for den deutsche Reichstag - Berlin), 1978.
Black and white photograph
Estimate:
€ 20,000 / $ 21,600
Sold:
€ 24,400 / $ 26,352

(incl. surcharge)