A Glorious Night's Dream: Christo Wraps Berlin's Reichstag Once More
Berlin once more covers Reichstag with veil
By Juliane Rohr
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From grand monuments to bridges and bodies of water, Christo and Jeanne-Claude transformed everyday sights into breathtaking spectacles. Their mesmerizing, temporary works will forever be etched in the memories of those who experienced them. Commencing June 19th, the Reichstag building in Berlin will once again captivate with its newly illuminated silhouette.
Christo and his wife Jeanne-Claude are legendary for their oversized, decorative packages, carefully enfolding structures such as buildings, bridges, or trees. Even encouraging people to walk for miles over a lake! Across the globe, their enchanting artwork captured the hearts and imaginations of countless onlookers. The couple's 1995 wrapping of the Reichstag remains a cherished memory in Berlin, as this historic landmark shimmered silver beneath blue ropes. Now, for ten consecutive nights, the Reichstag will return once more as a sculptural masterpiece through advanced light illumination.
spearhead this unforgettable experience. Schwenkow was an early member of the "Berliners for the Reichstag" group in the 1980s and has enjoyed a longstanding professional and personal connection to the building via various concerts and events. When asked by ntv.de about his feelings for the project, Schwenkow replied, "I'm simply a lover of Berlin." Explaining his enthusiasm for the project, he said, "Ever since 1984, I've had ties to that building, both professionally and personally. When Roland Specker approached me with the Christo project, I pondered it for a night before giving a resounding 'yes.'"
Feel the Invisible
Although Christo's projects were limited to a maximum of 16 days, their ephemeral nature only served to make them more revered. By disguising a familiar building like the Reichstag, new perspectives and insights are revealed. Christo himself was convinced that once-in-a-lifetime experiences foster a stronger memory in nostalgia's embrace. The secret to their success? By revealing what's hidden, it becomes more prominent in the eyes of the beholder.
June 13th would have been Christo and Jeanne-Claude's 90th birthdays, making this performance all the more poignant. This isn't a replica of the iconic 1995 Wrapped Reichstag, Schwenkow assures. "We aim to create a tribute, not a copy," he says. Schwenkow expresses gratitude for the smooth permit approval process, which contrasts starkly with the arduous 24-year-long German bureaucracy battle he and Christo faced back in the '70s.
Tenaciously Persistent (Or Let's Go)
Faced with various setbacks, the couple tirelessly pursued their dream of a wrapped Reichstag. Their journey through the German bureaucracy was fraught with difficulty, as the Reichstag was slated for renovation and set to become the new parliamentary building, with plans for a glass dome. Sensing an opportunity in this liminal period, Christo utilized his talents for metamorphosis. On February 25, 1994, the German Bundestag debated the merits of the project for 70 minutes before granting final approval with 292 votes in favor. Rejoicing in his success, Christo had finally realized his dream.
"I am an optimistic individual, confident in what I set out to achieve," recalls Schwenkow. Excited by the positive outcome, he eagerly anticipated the manifestation of the "Wrapped Reichstag," which served as a symbol of Germany's rebirth, a united city just six years after the fall of the Berlin Wall. The cultural manager reminisces fondly about the peaceful and silent gathering of hundreds of thousands of people who collectively embraced the artwork. He now longs for similar harmony during the jubilee performance of the light show, which is free, just like all of Christo's public installations.
Imitating the Inexplicable
The biggest challenge for Schwenkow and Specker lies in recreating the plasticity and impression of 1995 using advanced technology. Schwenkow explains their approach, "The monumentality and dynamic quality of the fabric will be emphasized and projected onto the building from three different platforms using 24 high-performance projectors." Following the trial run, Schwenkow is confident in their success, but the final verdict will be left to the viewers. The 20-minute loop combines images from the original wrapping and aims to evoke a feeling of artistry, rather than simply a slideshow.
The Transformative Touch
Christo and Jeanne-Claude defined their work as a collaborative, artistic endeavor. In 1958, they met in Paris. At the time, Christo was struggling to make ends meet as a portrait painter, while Jeanne-Claude juggled her job as a flight attendant. Their shared passion for the arts and life together led them to embark on a project to transform everyday objects using fabric or paint. In 1961, they first mused about transforming public buildings into something mysterious.
The Art of the Seen and Unseen
Fabric, with its myriad variations in structure, quality, and folds, has fascinated artists for centuries. The wrapping of the Reichstag follows this classical tradition. A total of 109,400 square meters of gray polypropylene fabric was aluminized, resulting in a soft silver or dark gray hue dependent on the time of day. Besides reproducing the building's stone structure, the ever-changing light and wind manipulated the fabric's folds, transforming the building into a living colossus.
In Pursuit of a Dream
After two weeks, it was over. The material was carefully recycled. Christo and Jeanne-Claude always funded their projects through various means, including sales of collages, drawings, or models. They refused any form of sponsorship, preserving their artistic independence. Schwenkow and Specker predominantly self-finance the illuminated Reichstag, eschewing public funds. As Schwenkow puts it, "We've built our careers in Berlin, and now, in our later years, we have the opportunity to repay this city for all it has given us."
For more of Christo and Jeanne-Claude's fascinating work, why not visit the Reinhold Wuerthe Museum's extensive collection in Swabian Kuenzelsau? Wuerthe, an entrepreneur and patron, shares a close friendship with the artist duo and owns one of the largest collections of their works, featuring 130 pieces. Meanwhile, Berlin's Neue Nationalgalerie displays Wrapped VW Beetles. No matter if you're in Kuenzelsau or Berlin, indulge in the simple beauty and joy of Christo's art amidst the chaos of the modern world.
Mark your calendars for the 30th anniversary celebration of "Wrapped Reichstag," happening June 9th to 20th, featuring an enlightening projection on the west facade of the Reichstag, approximately 9:30 PM to 1 AM.
In remembrance of the original "Wrapped Reichstag" from 1995, visit "Wrapped, bound, stacked, Christo and Jeanne-Claude," on display at the Museum Reinhold-Wuerthe-Strasse 15, 74653 Kuenzelsau-Gaisbach, until January 25th, with free admission.
Source: ntv.de
Art | Berlin
Enrichment Data:
The request for "Christo Reichstag illumination 2023" might be slightly misdated, as the significant event involving Christo and the Reichstag was actually "Wrapped Reichstag" in 1995, not an illumination in 2023. However, there is a related event in 2025 celebrating the 30th anniversary of "Wrapped Reichstag." Here's a summary of the history, artists, and background:
Background and History
Wrapped Reichstag: Christo and Jeanne-Claude conceived the idea of wrapping the Reichstag in 1971. After 24 years of planning and negotiations, the project was finally realized in 1995, just five years after German reunification. The building was wrapped in 100,000 square meters of reflective polypropylene fabric for 14 days, becoming a symbol of unity and artistic freedom[2][3][4].
Artists
Christo and Jeanne-Claude: The couple was renowned for their monumental public art projects. Christo (Christo Vladimirov Javacheff) was born in 1935 in Bulgaria, and Jeanne-Claude (Jeanne-Claude Denat de Guillebon) was born in 1935 in Morocco. They are known for works like The Gates in Central Park and Surrounded Islands in Florida[1][2].
Anna Bacheva: She is the artist behind the 2025 light projection, which uses 24 synchronized projectors to recreate the essence of "Wrapped Reichstag" on the building's facade[4].
The European Parliament, enthralled by the spectacle of the illuminated Reichstag, may consider it an entertaining display of art and technology. During the ten consecutive nights of the light show, the Reichstag, a historic landmark in Berlin, will transform into a vibrant center of entertainment, captivating onlookers just as Christo's temporary works did decades ago.
