christo & jeanne-claude 'l'arc de triomphe, wrapped' will be repurposed as tents

breathing new life into L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped materials

This month marks the second anniversary of duo Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s monumental public artwork, L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped (1961–2021), unveiled on September 18, 2021, to the amazement of Parisians and visitors from around the world. During its 16-day lifespan, six million people viewed the work, and more than half a billion experienced it through media sources, contributing to the radiance of post-pandemic Paris. The project made possible thanks to a dedicated team under the direction of Vladimir Yavachev, is now in its final phase of being repurposed in collaboration with the global environmental organization Parley for the Oceans. The team will convert the fabric and ropes into shade structures, tents, and barnums for Paris’ upcoming events, namely the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. ‘This is a very fine example of the art world’s ability to adapt to climate challenges,’ notes Yavachev.

image by Wolfgang Volz, 2021 | all © Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation

full header video courtesy Parley for the Oceans

the story behind Christo and jeanne claude’s paris installation

The story of this installation dates back to 1961, three years after Christo met Jeanne-Claude. At that time, the duo began creating works of art in public spaces. One of their projects was to wrap a public building. At the time, Christo, renting a small room near L’Arc de Triomphe, made several studies of a project there, including 1962, a photomontage of the concept. Almost 60 years later, the project was realized.

Throughout the entire period when the artwork was on display, as well as during its preparation, the space beneath — where the holy flagstone lies and where since 1923 the eternal flame has burned in front of the tomb of the unknown soldier — was fully maintained. As always, associations, charity workers, and volunteers committed to the values of the French Republic will take turns to ensure the continuity of souvenirs and memory and to proceed with the daily ceremony of rekindling the flame and paying homage to the unknown soldier with the appropriate solemnity.

image by Benjamin Loyseau, 2021

Parley for the Oceans upcycles the polypropylene into tents

As done for past projects by Christo and Jeanne-Claude, all materials used to create L’Arc de Triomphe Wrapped are being reused, upcycled, and recycled. Les Charpentiers de Paris, ArcelorMittal, and Derichebourg Environnement have already reused the wood and steel comprising the installation’s substructures. The 25,000 square meters of silvery blue polypropylene fabric and 3,000 meters of red polypropylene rope have been processed by Parley for the Oceans (see more here), and the materials are now moving into the design and production phase.

‘When visiting Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped two years ago in Paris, I saw a flag of rebellion. An encouragement that seemingly impossible ideas can become a reality, if we pursue them without bending, without giving up and by staying positive and optimistic. The ropes, the fabric of the artwork are testament of the true superpower we humans possess: Imagination. We will create tent structures that are designed to protect human life against dangerous heat waves. And to supercharge our hearts and our minds for the epic challenge ahead of us. I know it for sure, together we can create a new economy where harmful, toxic and exploitative business practices are a relic of the past,‘ concludes Cyrill Gutsch, Founder and CEO of Parley for the Oceans.

image by Wolfgang Volz, 2021