Jean Claude and Christo at the NYC Gates installation.
Umbrellas, Japan
Wrapped Reichstag, Berlin, GermanyToday at school we were lucky to have a lecture by the famous installation artist Christo. I was excited to go to the lecture, but since I have been sick for the past two weeks and haven't gotten much sleep, I must admit I was not awake through the whole lecture. But when I was awake, it was truly one of the best lectures I've heard in the last five years at Pratt.
So I like to boast that two years ago, I was lucky enough to attend an event where Christo and Jean Claude were to attend, and they were going to be seated at my table. Unfortunately they did not make it, only to find out a couple months later, that Jean Claude had passed away only a few weeks after said event. I first learned about their work when I lived in France, prior to attending the famed Venice Biennale in 2003, I learned for the first time what installation art was. And I must say, their work is one of the few examples of installations I really appreciate. To meet them would have been exhilarating, but alas, I did not get to do so.
Today's lecture felt more like a conversation with Christo. We've all had a conversation with an old family member who is very sane but quirky with whom we have conversations, questioning their lucidness throughout the conversation, but realizing how well they are in the end. Christo first gave an introduction on stage, only to then step down take a seat and talk about his work from his seat. He argued with his colleague, having difficulty with the slide presentation. The true value of his lecture was the hour he spent taking to students, faculty and administration during the Q&A.
For me the highlight of this event was when he spoke about Jean Claude. We've heard of so many partnerships who are built as business and personal relationship, only to have it fall apart in the end. But Jean Claude and Christo shared a special relationship since first meeting in Paris in 1958 - that was a 50 year relationship, and their love is reflected in their work and in their continuous collaboration. Even today, after Jean Claude's passing, Christo still speaks about how she is part of the work, how it's not his work, but it's both of theirs. It was truly inspiring to hear him talk very honestly about the relationship which created some of the most astonishing work we've seen in the past 50 years.
