With the rapid development of technology and the world constantly in motion, when it comes to Packing, one inevitably thinks of the dynamic duo of Package Art—Christo & Jeanne-Claude. Their works consistently showcase iconic landmarks and landscapes, transforming Packing into a hallmark of their signature creative elements.
Born on June 13, 1935, Christo & Jeanne-Claude are renowned for their daring temporary installations that boldly reshape public spaces. They have consistently focused on selling sketches, drawings, and collages to finance their large-scale public projects, ensuring the independence and public accessibility of their art. Over the years, Packing has produced many notable works, with famous pieces like Germany Building, the one in California, and the installation in New York City’s Central Park, all of which leave a lasting impression.
On June 26 of this year, Phillips London will host an extraordinary art feast at the Modern and Contemporary Art auction, showcasing over 30 precious works from a prominent private collector based in Japan. This auction also marks the 90th anniversary of the legendary couple Package Art, adding a special touch to the global celebrations in the art community.
Precious sketches of several representative works.
At this auction, the spotlight was on several prized sketches of iconic works, coinciding with their significant anniversaries, such as the 20th anniversary of Central Park in New York Big Splash Gate, the 30th anniversary of Package Capitol Hill in Berlin, and the 40th anniversary of Package at Shinbashi in Paris. Valued between £60,000 and £80,000, Package for the Capitol Building (Berlin Project) (created in 1986) showcases the artist couple’s meticulous preparatory collages, documenting a grand vision that took 24 years to realize.
Right: Package at Shinbashi (Paris Project) (1985)
Big Splash Gate (created in 2005) is estimated to fetch between £35,000 and £45,000. This piece is the only public project by the Christos to be realized in New York, and it drew over 4 million visitors in just 16 days. Meanwhile, Guo Xin Qiao (Paris Project) (from 1985), valued at £70,000 to £100,000, captures the couple’s groundbreaking transformation of an urban landmark on such a scale, attracting 3 million viewers that year.
Right: Umbrella (Japan and the Western United States Project) (1987)
The auction also showcases the early works of Christo, including package from 1963 (estimated at £40,000 to £60,000) and Package phone number (estimated at £20,000 to £30,000). These pieces laid the foundation for the artist’s iconic large-scale wrapped art concepts and aesthetics that would emerge later.
Right: Package Chicago Contemporary Art Museum (Project) (1968)
This year, cities around the globe are paying tribute to this artistic couple in various ways: Paris will showcase a collaboration between JR and the Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation in September with The Shimbashi Project; Berlin’s Reichstag has already hosted a projection mapping event for Package Capitol Hill from June 9 to 20, every night; while New York launched an augmented reality experience for Big Splash Gate back in February.
This auction is not just an exchange of artistic treasures; it is also the perfect tribute to the artist couple who transform fleeting moments into eternal beauty.
