30 Years of Reichstag Wrapping: A Symbol from the Past vanishes, an Image Lingers On
Mystery ensues as a residence vanishes, leaving behind a solitary photograph. - Home sells, photo persists
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Ever wondered about an art project that transformed a political icon into a temporary artistic masterpiece? That's exactly what Christo and Jeanne-Claude achieved with the wrapping of the Berlin Reichstag, an event that took place 30 years ago. Between June 24 and July 7, 1995, the building was hidden under 100,000 square meters of shimmering silver fabric, attracting a staggering 5 million visitors.
Why the Reichstag, you ask? This venture began as a 1971 proposal from US historian Michael Cullen to Christo. However, the journey to realization was far from smooth sailing. It took 24 years of debates, doubts, criticism, and meticulous planning for the "Wrapped Reichstag" to be a reality.
From a Power Center to an Art Symbol
In divided Berlin, the art project initially faced resistance. It was rejected thrice. Things started to turn when Rita Süssmuth became Bundestag President in 1988 and the Berlin Wall fell a year later. They viewed the project as a symbol of peace and culture, in contrast to the harsh image of the country in tougher times.
Yet, prominent politicians like Helmut Kohl (CDU), Wolfgang Schäuble (CDU), and Angela Merkel (CDU), then Minister for the Environment, expressed their opposition. Schäuble feared that such artistic experiments on the heart of German democracy could shake citizens' trust in the historical dignity of parliament and culture.
The Reichstag - A monument to key historical turning points
Built over a decade and completed in 1894, the Reichstag has stood as a monument to the breaks and turning points in German history. It was initially the seat of the German Empire's parliament and later the Weimar Republic. German democracy was first proclaimed from one of its balconies in 1918. In 1933, it became the site of authoritarian power seizure through a fire set by the National Socialists. After World War II, it stood as a ruins in Berlin, overshadowed by the red Soviet flags. And in 1990, people celebrated German unity on its steps within sight of the Berlin Wall.
The final vote in parliament in favor of the wrapping saw a majority of 292 to 223, after a heated debate lasting 70 minutes. Christo and Jeanne-Claude's tireless persuasive efforts, including visiting over 350 members of parliament and presenting their idea to the electorate, played a crucial role in garnering support for their project.
A Long, but Necessary Journey
The long, arduous political and organizational process involved hundreds of climbers and workers. Yet, it didn't deter the couple. For Christo's nephew, project manager, and artist Vladimir Yavachev, this lengthy process was integral to the art's meaning. "If the permit had simply been granted, it would never have been so politically or medially charged," says Yavachev. "It's an incredible compliment to an artist when thousands discuss a work that doesn't even exist yet. That gives the project a whole different dimension."
Although they created their works primarily for themselves, the choice of location played a significant role in determining the message. As Vladimir Yavachev explains, "The only place in the world where East and West met so dramatically was Berlin." For Christo, who had fled his Bulgarian homeland to the West in 1956, the project held a personal political significance.
Their works were often politically charged because of their locations. The "Gates" project in New York in 2005, showcasing thousands of orange gates with billowing fabric, was completed three and a half years after September 11th. Yavachev recalls the press describing it as the first time New Yorkers looked up to the sky with joy again amid grief.
Remembrance through Experience, not Replicas
Yavachev and his team are focusing on new forms of memory to celebrate the artists' legacy. They aim to create immersive experiences, not exact replicas, as Christo saw his art as purely temporary. "Nostalgia was foreign to them," says Yavachev, emphasizing that, "What was important to them was that art in public space sparks conversation – whether you love it or hate it. The wrappings helped us see the familiar in a new light. If we can preserve that, I'd be very happy."
The "Gates" can be experienced virtually via an app, while the Reichstag's western facade will display images of the 1995 wrapping using high-performance projectors from June 9th to 20th, 2023. "I don't know what Christo would have thought about that," says Yavachev. "He loved what he called the 'real thing.' But we're not claiming this is it. It's simply a new form of archiving – photography and film were used before, and now there are new technologies."
Posthumous works are still being accomplished, such as the wrapping of the Parisian Arc de Triomphe in 2021 and a 150-meter high pyramid of colorful barrels in Abu Dhabi – Christo's first, and likely only, permanent work.
Insights:
Historical Significance of Reichstag: Initially, the Reichstag was the seat of parliament in the German Empire and the Weimar Republic. It witnessed key moments in German history, including the proclamation of the first German democracy and the authoritarian power seizure during the Nazi era.
Reunification Symbolism: After reunification in 1990, the Reichstag was planned for renovation to become the united German parliament's seat again. The Christo and Jeanne-Claude wrapping, which attracted millions of visitors, was seen as a symbol of democratic renewal and unity. It visually transformed the historic building, invoking reflection on Germany's past divisions and hopeful future.
Political Symbolism: The wrapping was intended as a symbol of democratic participation and renewal. Politically, it sparked heated debates about the role of art in political spaces, with some arguing that the wrapping honored and reimagined the Reichstag's symbolic status, while others believed it inappropriate for such a politically charged building.
Personal Political Significance: For Christo, who had fled his Bulgarian homeland to the West in 1956, the project carried a personal political significance.
Other Works by Christo and Jeanne-Claude: Other works by the couple were also politically impactful due to their locations. Examples include The Gates, a project in Central Park, New York, that celebrated democracy following the 9/11 attacks.
Summary: Christo’s 1995 wrapping of the Reichstag was a landmark political and artistic event, blending political symbolism and artistic expression, symbolizing democratic renewal in a reunified Germany and engaging public participation in reflecting on history and politics.
- The Commission's proposal for a Council Directive on food labelling may be compared to the political symbolism embedded in Christo and Jeanne-Claude's Reichstag wrapping project, as both aim to reimagine and renew important institutions while sparking debates about the intersection of art, politics, and culture.
- The Reichstag wrapping, initiated in 1971 and culminating in 1995, mirrors the lengthy political process surrounding the Council Directive on food labelling, both requiring persistence, persuasion, and a deep understanding of their respective locations' histories and cultural significance.
