60 years later: the iron wall by Christo and Jeanne-Claude revived
At a time when the Cold War seems to be heating up again, Gagosian Gallery is celebrating 60th anniversary of Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s work, “The Iron Curtain”, to once again challenge our consciences. This iconic work of art blocked Visconti Street in 1962, with a wall of 89 oil barrels as a poetic protest against the creation of the Berlin Wall. Just as the wall disrupted the free movement of people within a divided Germany, the “Barrel Wall – The Iron Curtain” obstructed some of the traffic on the Left Bank of Paris. On this occasion, an augmented reality experience was also created by Anna Batheva, to allow Parisians and visitors to virtually visualize the artwork in the exact location where it was erected in 1962. To inaugurate the commemorative plaque on rue Visconti, Vladimir Yavachev – nephew of Christo and Jeanne-Claude and the man responsible for the recent wrapping of the Arc Triomphe, took the mike to say welcome the guests and remember his legendary relatives. During this inauguration evening we met Aaron Young, Mathieu Poirier and Aurélie Bidermann.
Photos: Jean Picon
