© 1995 Christo & Prestel Verlag

Interview with Christo

Interviewer: Masahiko Yanagi

Page 3 of 12

With friendly permission by Prestel Verlag

Drawing 1977
Foto: Wolfgang Volz
Collection Jeanne-Claude Christo, New York

Yanagi:

In the past, you have abandoned several projects. And in the case of Wrapped Monument to Cristobal Colon, Project for Barcelona, you abandoned it even after getting permission.

This is the only project I've abandoned after getting permission. Other projects I abandoned because I did not get the permit or I lost interest, such as with the 1968 Wrapped Trees, Project for the Champs Elysées, Paris or the 1967 Wrapped Building, Project for Allied Chemical Tower, Number One Times Square, New York... I do projects only if they are inspiring for me. I am excited about The Umbrellas, project for Japan and Western U.S.A., and I'm excited about the Reichstag project, but at some moment things might shift. For example, in 1981, I was very depressed after the refusal for the Reichstag project. We were having terrible problems with The Gates, project for Central Park, and I was just advancing with the Surrounded lslands, Biscayne Bay, Greater Miami, Florida 1980-83. I was ready to abandon the Reichstag project, but many people, including the former Chancellor Willy Brandt, told me that dropping the project was not any more only my personal decision, and that I should consider the many people who were helping make the project happen. It was very gratifying to see that, even though I was fed up and depressed, there were so many people with me and that there was still a slim chance to get the permission.

Drawing (two parts) 1986
Foto: Wolfgang Volz
Collection Jeanne-Claude Christo, New York

Yanagi:

Have you ever considered retaking an abandoned project if over time the circumstances have changed ?

No, but it could happen, it is not impossible. Some old idea could become inspiring again, but for the moment it has not happened. Many people forget that I work for a long time on these projects. Last year a number of writers were saying, "Now Christo is working in the city," forgetting completely that the Pont Neuf project was first planned 10 years before. And probably when we do the Reichstag project many won't realize that it took over 14 years. If an idea was valid to me in 1960 it might still be valid today. I truly don't know.

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© 1995 Christo & Prestel Verlag