Week 35

When we were looking for creative people for our #SiPgoes53 adventure a colorful image of pink islands jumped to my mind, and I added Christo to the list. It was early eighties when I saw an image that made an impression on me. I must have been 12 or thirteen years old, and saw this image in one of those glossy photographique magazines that were laying around our house all the time.
How cool was it to wrap islands with pink ~~plastic~~ fabrique.

Surrounded Islands, Biscayne Bay, Greater Miami, Florida, 1980-83
Photo: Wolfgang Volz
© 1983 Christo

An artist couple

Christo (alive and working on his next project) and Jeanne-Claude (died 2007) were a married couple who created environmental works of art throughout their lives. Christo and Jeanne-Claude were born on the same day, June 13, 1935, 4500 kilometers apart- Christo in Bulgaria, and Jeanne-Claude in Morocco. They first met in Paris 23 years later when Christo painted a portrait of Jeanne-Claude’s mother. They then fell in love through creating art work together.

Iconic Buildings

Their works include the wrapping of those pink islands outside Miami, the Reichstag in Berlin, the Pont-Neuf bridge in Paris and The Gates in New York City’s Central Park. And while their work is visually impressive and often controversial due to its scale and potential impact on the environment, the artists have repeatedly denied that their projects contain any deeper meaning than their immediate aesthetic impact. And they also claim to be the cleanest artists on the planet, as all is removed at the end, their large scale works of art are temporary and only in man touched environments. The purpose of their art, is simply to create works of art for joy and beauty.

So here we are in week 35, with an artist couple that made a lasting impression 35 years ago when they wrapped those island in pink ~~plastic~~ fabrique. Week 35 in what is for sure a more challenging series as our SiPgoes52 from last year. Putting people in focus is not that easy.
It is like giving you a creative brief, and not an open canvas.
Much more directive.
But at the same time opening connections and reflections.
Sharing influences and inspiration.