I finally decided to go. I had to. I was not so thrilled about fighting traffic and people to go to the Champs-Élysées again but I could not afford the idea to miss the Arc de Triomphe all wrapped in silvery blue fabric (recyclable polypropylene fabric to be precise) by Christo and Jeanne-Claude. Since it is on view for 16 days only and Sunday October 3rd will be the last one, today was my last chance to make a little detour on my way home and see it live, not just on a screen.
Unfortunately the weather was not great. The grey sky did not really enhance the view but still.. how different it is compared to normal! At the first view it seemed to me that the Arc de Triomphe was under renovation work. Not really a good thing. Then, going closer I could see how the fabric is actually moulding, but at the same time recreating, the building underneath: you cannot see it but you can guess its shape. The sculptures I know so well have been transformed in something geometrical, linear, silvery. I still do not know if I like it but I am not even sure if “like” is something you can apply to this kind of art where time is part of the concept. Is that so bad if for a couple of weeks something old, something we take for granted, will look new and different again? Having a new point of view on the fix urban fabric of Paris is unexpected, and fun. Then, would I appreciate the wrapped arc if I were a first time visitor? Hard to tell.
Anyway, I could not take many pictures so I am linking a great website, where you can see amazing photos of the L’Arc de Triomphe. Wrapped. by Jared Chulsky.
If you want to know more, about the project, how if was financed, the details and the artists, just visit Christo and Jeanne-Claude official website!
A last tip: are you visiting the installation? Find the guys with the gilet blue: they can explain you the project and give you samples of the fabric, the only proof that once the Arc was really wrapped! If you want to see how the fabric looks, meet me on my instagram stories ad take a look at the video!
Your Tour In Paris 