petit à petit – 5 「 L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped（包まれた凱旋門）」

petit à petit - 5 "L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped"

The essay “petit à petit” by Akari, who moved to France with her artist husband in the fall of 2020. This time, she wrote about “L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped” by Christo and Jeanne-Claude, which was on view in Paris until October 3.

akari

akari has been active in international activities, such as producing party spaces of New Zealand Embassy in Tokyo and Italian Cultural Institute in Osaka, giving a lecture at the FIT (New York State Fashion Institute of Technology), and producing artworks of 5-star hotel “Renaissance Taipei Shihlin Hotel” of the Marriott Group Hotel in Taipei. Akari produces parties and events for corporate clients. Her focus is on creating interactive time and space for people. “PAPER PARTY” has been offered since 2012 as a party space constructed entirely through a cardboard medium, expressing new possibilities and transforming a space into an eco-friendly environment full of fun, excitement, and peer-to-peer interaction. Since 2015 lifestyle brand “by akari” has been started. From a corporate perspective, marketing strategies and company re-branding services are offered to clients in the commercial sphere, with a long track record of work in the cafe and restaurant sector. These seek to maximize company returns through the expression of ideas that reflect new trends, as well as valuing a woman’s perspective.

Links:
akari._.ogawa

barracks anonymous design gang / Paris

petit à petit – 5 ” L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped “

I had a chance to see with my own eyes “L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped,” a limited-time art piece by Christo and Jeanne-Claude that was on view from September 18 to October 3.

This magnificent project, which has been planned for 60 years, consists of 25,000 square meters of recyclable cloth hanging from the roof and tied with 3,000 meters of recyclable red rope.

The cloth covering of the historic building was so large that it was surrounded by steel poles that were assembled in three dimensions so as not to touch the surface of the stone to avoid damaging the Arc de Triomphe.

Two days before the completion of the Arc de Triomphe, I walked by and took some photos. It was almost finished, yet the area around the Arc de Triomphe was filled with trucks and cranes.

Almost finished of L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped

The cars driving around the Arc de Triomphe were rather slow and sluggish, as if they were busy looking at the Arc de Triomphe. Horns blare in the streets of Paris.

Christo passed away in May 2020. It is a great pity that without the COVID-19 pandemic, we would have seen the completion of the project in April 2020.

I was surprised to hear that all the funds for the production of this work, which is said to be worth 1.8 billion yen in Japanese yen, came from the sales of Christo’s own sketches, drawings, and collages, and no public money or private aid was used. In fact, a friend of mine who traveled to the south of France this summer saw some of his sketches for sale at a gallery, but I’m sure they’ve already been sold.

I came back again to see how it was lit up at night, but unfortunately, it was raining. Even so, it was overwhelmingly beautiful and powerful.

Looking at it from a distance was completely different from looking up at it from directly below. It was absolutely beautiful.

The rain fogged up the camera and made it look fantastic.

He said that the power of the fabric would make people want to touch the Arc de Triomphe, and he paid particular attention to the way the drapes were placed. In fact, when I stood under the Arc de Triomphe, I was drawn to touch the fabric. The sight of the cloth swaying in the wind was beautiful. 　I realized that even the movement of the cloth fluttering in the wind had been well calculated.

The red rope was tied tightly. The Arc de Triomphe itself looked like a gift, and it was lovely. I will never forget the solid weight and feel of the cloth when I actually touched it.

And the 7cm square pieces of cloth that were being given out under the Arc de Triomphe felt like a gift from Christo.