Wrapped Reichstag Explained

Wrapped Reichstag, Project for Berlin is a 1995 environmental artwork by artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude included as the wrapped up Berlin Reichstag building in fabric.

History

A German citizens' group unsuccessfully advocated for the project in 1978 but the building, which held deep German national identity symbolism prior to reunification, required unavailable political will. Rita Süssmuth, the newly elected President of the Bundestag, expressed interest in the project in 1989, precipitating its approval. The project had been rejected three times across six Bundestag presidents and 24 years before its on 26 February 1994 during an debate at Bundestag an vote for approval, 296 votes for and 228 votes against. Wrapped Reichstag mounted in 1995 for two weeks as 100,000 square meters of silver fabric draped the building and fastened with blue rope. The Reichstag, which had not been in use, was later reconstructed for parliamentary use in 1999. Christo described the Reichstag wrapping as autobiographical. It became symbolic of unified Germany and marked Berlin's return as a world city. The Guardian posthumously described the work as the pair's "most spectacular achievement".

Bibliography

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