© 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.
Christo:
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 ?
Christo:
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.
© 1995 Christo & Prestel Verlag