Christo and Conceptual Art

Christo- Self Portrait

 

 

 Mummy

How is Christo's self portrait similar to an Egyptian mummy?

 

 

Christo was born in June 13, 1935 in Bulgaria.  His wife Jeanne Claude was also born the same day June 13, 1935 in Morocco. Their partnership began in the l960's. They met in l958 when Christo was commissioned to paint a portrait of Jeanne Claude's mother. Jeanne Claude died in November 2009 of a brain aneurysm.

 

Christo is known as a conceptual artist. His wife was quoted to say"...Our art has absolutely no purpose, except to be a work of art.   In conceptual art the idea or concept is the most important part of the work.  The artist dedicates his/her time to planning out the ideas and concepts before the art is conceived.  The actual artwork is not as important as the actual idea-conception.  

 

Many artists create installations.   These artforms consist of setting up environments in gallery settings or outdoor environments.  Also performances are included in conceptual art. The art is "emphemeral"-temporary.  Most of the work is preserved through drawings, documentations, photography and videos.

 

Early work by Christo-began with small objects.

drawing plans of wrapped phone

 

Cathedral

 

Running Fence in Sonoma County, California l976

Formal elements and principles of design-the element of "Line" and lines intersecting forms in space are part of the concept of the running fence.  The land becomes a natural canvas for Christo to draw with fabric. 

 

Installation of umbrellas in Los Angeles-San Fernando Valley l99l and Japan.  The umbrellas create a decorative/pattern element to the landscape.  They also mimic plant life such as hillsides of blooming wild flowers or exotic wild mushrooms.

Umbrellas in Japan

 



 

wrapped islands of Biscayne Bay-surrounded eleven islands (near Miami)

 

wrapped trees

 

 

Christo and Jeanne Claude

 

 

 

Sandra Vista- wrapped gourd with strings of beads/gel /acrylic paint "Ivette" (2009)

 

 

 

 

1. How does an artist insure his/her "immortality" through their artwork? What are the relationships of the Egyptians search for the afterlife/immortality similar to Christo's work? 

 

2. How are "ideas" necessary for the survival of mankind?

 

3. What does it mean when we say that "Ideas are living things" ?

 

4. How does history/time expand and contract ideas?

 

5. What kind of objects have you wrapped in your lifetime?  What objects have you seen wrapped  or hope to wrap in your lifetime? (discuss small and large scale items)