Major Christo Installation to Be Unveiled at Gagosian London
London, UK – A groundbreaking installation by the late artist Christo, titled Package on a Ceiling, will be realized at Gagosian London, six years after his passing. This monumental artwork, designed in 1968, integrates a detailed scale model and drawings that were recently rediscovered, adding a new chapter to Christo’s innovative legacy.
A Vision Rediscovered
Initially conceived for the Institute of Contemporary Art in Philadelphia, Package on a Ceiling represents Christo’s aspiration to craft a vast, suspended form reminiscent of a cloud. Though technical limitations prevented its original execution, the installation will now come to life in Gagosian’s expansive exhibition space, measuring an impressive 16 meters in length and 10 meters in width, gracefully descending to just above head height.
Serena Cattaneo Adorno, a senior director at Gagosian, elaborated on the artwork, stating, “Both architectural and atmospheric, it compels visitors to move beneath and around it.” She emphasized the significance of this exhibition, calling it a manifestation of an idea that had existed only in the conceptual realm for decades. “The gesture of wrapping is one of the most radical aspects of Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s practice,” noted Adorno. “Here, it is applied to air and architectural surfaces—a distillation of their thinking to its purest form.”
The Unearthed Masterpiece
The plans for this installation were rediscovered by Lorenza Giovanelli, who became Christo’s studio manager in 2017. During a studio reorganization, she inadvertently found a box hidden within a plinth containing a detailed scale model of Package on a Ceiling, complete with electrical wiring to simulate its illuminated features. Giovanelli recalled the moment as astonishing, revealing that Christo had forgotten the existence of this piece, which had been safely stored away for about 50 years.
“It will look like a beautiful cloud, lit from within, hanging from the ceiling of the gallery space,” Giovanelli described. “I believe people will find it extremely beautiful.”
Christo and Jeanne-Claude: A Legacy of Innovation
Widely recognized for their temporary public artworks that transformed landscapes, Christo and his wife Jeanne-Claude used everyday materials to create monumental installations. Their projects involved meticulous planning, yet they existed temporarily before being dismantled and recycled.
From the wrapped Reichstag in Berlin to the covered Pont Neuf in Paris, Christo’s works challenged viewers to reconsider their perceptions of space and form. Package on a Ceiling continues this tradition, exploring the concept of “wrapping” air itself, presented within transparent polyethylene packages bound with rope—a theme explored as early as the 1960s.
Exhibition Details
Gagosian London will host Package on a Ceiling from May 21 to August 21, 2023, at 20 Grosvenor Hill, W1. The exhibition will also showcase various works themed around air, described by Giovanelli as “invisible, intangible, and essential.” She recounted Christo’s belief in the importance of curiosity and engagement with art, stating, “He was never too concerned about whether people understood the work. He was happy as long as they felt compelled to explore it.”
Vladimir Yavachev, Christo’s nephew, praised the precision of the rediscovered drawings and scale model, confirming that the installation will accurately reflect Christo’s original vision. “You can look at every detail. It’s there,” he commented.
The realization of Package on a Ceiling marks a significant moment in the contemporary art landscape, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in the atmospheric and conceptual depths that defined Christo’s artistic journey.
For more information about the exhibition and future events, visit Gagosian London.
