Lot 3431 - A205 PostWar & Contemporary - jeudi, 22. juin 2023, 14h00
CHRISTO (VLADIMIROV JAVACHEFF)
(Gabrowo 1935–2020 New York)
The Umbrellas: Project for Japan and Western USA (Blue). 1987.
Pencil, charcoal, pastel, wax crayon, enamel and technical data on paper on panel.
Signed and dated on the upper panel lower left: Christo 1987, also with further project information in the upper and lower margins. On the reverse with installation information.
Drawing in 2 parts: 30.5 × 78 cm / 67 × 78 cm.
In original plexiglass-frame.
In original plexiglass-frame.
The authenticity of this work has been confirmed by Matthias Koddenberg, Archive Christo and Jeanne-Claude, New York, March 2023. We thank him for the kind assistance.
Provenance:
- Anne Kendall Richards Nitze, New York.
- Auction Christie's London, 2 December 1993, lot 171.
- Vivian Horan Fine Art, New York (verso with the label).
- Nohra Haime Gallery, New York (verso with the label).
- Private collection Switzerland.
Christo & Jeanne-Claude's large-scale projects required not only well-considered logistics, but also political influence and financial independence. Through the pre-sale of drawings, designs, collages and photographs, the projects of this artist couple were always financed autonomously. Here we have two wonderful works that were created before the project was realised: "The Umbrellas - Project for Japan and USA" from 1989 (lot 3431 and 3433).
Christo's temporary projects would always seek public attention. From the first moment of their creation to their media follow-up, through books and film, they were fully accessible to wider society: the socio-political, economic framework is an important component of the works. Consequently, settings, landscapes or urban environments were sought in order to give priority to a magical, fascinating dimension and the pure visual beauty of what human beings have created in nature. As such, the landscape project "The Umbrellas" in a hillside setting is a wonderful example and legacy of the oeuvre of the artists Christo & Jeanne-Claude.
"The Umbrellas" is the only project by the artist duo that spans two continents, with Japan and the USA, which at the time, in economic terms, were the richest countries in the world. The exhibitions opened simultaneously on 9 October 1991 and lasted 18 days, but the conception and planning took almost 7 years.
The route of the blue umbrellas erected in Japan followed a valley 75 km north of Tokyo and involved 459 private and state properties. The 1340 sky blue umbrellas were spread over 10 km through the green hills. The counterpart in the USA was located 96 km north of Los Angeles and covered 26 private and state properties. The 1760 yellow umbrellas ran for 29 km in a desert-like hilly landscape.
This joint art project between Japan and the US simultaneously reflected the similarities and differences in lifestyles, seasonal colours and light of the landscape in the two valleys. This temporary, luminous microcosm, was a great success, attracting over two million visitors in total.
Provenance:
- Anne Kendall Richards Nitze, New York.
- Auction Christie's London, 2 December 1993, lot 171.
- Vivian Horan Fine Art, New York (verso with the label).
- Nohra Haime Gallery, New York (verso with the label).
- Private collection Switzerland.
Christo & Jeanne-Claude's large-scale projects required not only well-considered logistics, but also political influence and financial independence. Through the pre-sale of drawings, designs, collages and photographs, the projects of this artist couple were always financed autonomously. Here we have two wonderful works that were created before the project was realised: "The Umbrellas - Project for Japan and USA" from 1989 (lot 3431 and 3433).
Christo's temporary projects would always seek public attention. From the first moment of their creation to their media follow-up, through books and film, they were fully accessible to wider society: the socio-political, economic framework is an important component of the works. Consequently, settings, landscapes or urban environments were sought in order to give priority to a magical, fascinating dimension and the pure visual beauty of what human beings have created in nature. As such, the landscape project "The Umbrellas" in a hillside setting is a wonderful example and legacy of the oeuvre of the artists Christo & Jeanne-Claude.
"The Umbrellas" is the only project by the artist duo that spans two continents, with Japan and the USA, which at the time, in economic terms, were the richest countries in the world. The exhibitions opened simultaneously on 9 October 1991 and lasted 18 days, but the conception and planning took almost 7 years.
The route of the blue umbrellas erected in Japan followed a valley 75 km north of Tokyo and involved 459 private and state properties. The 1340 sky blue umbrellas were spread over 10 km through the green hills. The counterpart in the USA was located 96 km north of Los Angeles and covered 26 private and state properties. The 1760 yellow umbrellas ran for 29 km in a desert-like hilly landscape.
This joint art project between Japan and the US simultaneously reflected the similarities and differences in lifestyles, seasonal colours and light of the landscape in the two valleys. This temporary, luminous microcosm, was a great success, attracting over two million visitors in total.
CHF 60 000 / 80 000 | (€ 61 860 / 82 470)
Vendu pour CHF 104 000 (frais inclus)
Aucune responsabilité n'est prise quant à l´exactitude de ces informations.