Illustrations for POWIDOKI magazine

The artistic and scientific, thematic magazine POWIDOKI is published by The Strzemiński Academy of Fine Arts Łódź, Poland. It contains critical texts about art and design as well as interviews with prominent figures of the world of culture and higher education from Poland and abroad.

Task:

To make illustrations for an article about world-famous artists Christo i Jeanne Claude written by dr. Dominika Łarionów for polish art and scientific magazine Powidoki, nr.4.

I had to take into account the main issue of an article which is fabric. The client was interested in my interpretation, not necessarily accurate redrawing. The illustrations have to show that these are Christo’s realizations, that they are packed and we have to feel the role of the fabric.

Style:

Linear, architectural technique combined with an irregular stain underneath. The color have to be identifying. The client cared about the contrast between the line that builds a solid and an irregular stain.

References:

Sketches, nature of unfinished drawings, fabric fragments, parts of the creative process.

Keywords:

structure, fabric fragments, packaging, installation, architecture, contrast, line, plane, construction, environment, site-specific, soft fabric, sketchbook.

L`arc de Triomphe, Wrapped

1961–2021

L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped, a project for Paris, was conceived in 1961 and on view for 16 days in autumn 2021. The Arc de Triomphe was wrapped in 25,000 square meters of recyclable polypropylene fabric in silvery blue, and 3,000 meters of red rope.

Surrounded Islands

1980–1983

In 1983, eleven of the islands situated in Biscayne Bay, Greater Miami, were surrounded with 6.5 million square feet (603,870 square meters) of floating pink woven polypropylene fabric covering the surface of the water and extending out from each island into the bay.

The Pont Neuf Wrapped

1975 - 1985

In 1985, Christo and Jeanne-Claude wrapped the Pont-Neuf, the oldest bridge in Paris. The artists' vision for the project was conceived in 1975. It was the last time they had an idea for a wrapping.

"Christo and his wife Jeanne-Claude made architectural objects less important due to their historical significance and turned into exclusive urban props shining in the sun."

Dominika Łarionow

Wall of Oil Barrels - The Iron Curtain

1961–1962

On June 27, 1962, Christo and Jeanne-Claude closed a narrow street in Paris with a wall of 89 oil barrels. The art barricade was a protest against the Berlin Wall which had been built in August of 1961.

The Gates

1979–2005

The installation of The Gates in New York's Central Park was completed in February 2005. The 7,503 gates with their free-hanging saffron colored fabric panels seemed like a golden river appearing and disappearing through the bare branches of the trees.

Wrapped Reichstag

1971–1995

After a struggle spanning the seventies, eighties and nineties, the wrapping of the Reichstag was completed in June 1995. For two weeks, the building was shrouded with silvery fabric, shaped by the blue ropes, highlighting the features and proportions of the imposing structure.