Seizing the opportunity for a lifetime memory
The Arc de Triomphe Wrapped by Christo & Jeanne-Claude
A Moment of Wonder does not necessarily mean awe at a colossal monument. It can be as simple as noticing the little things.
It is nothing more than looking around you and paying attention, even to something you've seen a million times—case in point: the Arc de Triomphe.
Confession time: I should not write that, but this Parisian art historian has never cared for the Arc de Triomphe.
It's not that I dislike it, but this massive and militaristic monument to Napoléon's military victories was so interesting to me that I never bothered to visit it.
I only went when forced to. Once at the top, I agreed that the view from up there was quite nice and left straight away.
This is context to help understand that every time I have been near the Arc de Triomphe, I just never paid any attention to it.
There was no chance I would stop to contemplate it, even less to take pictures of it.
Until a magical moment occurred.
Christo, the artist wrapping things
If you do not know about Christo, here is an introduction:
Christo was an artist born in Bulgaria who escaped to France, met Jeanne-Claude, and started to wrap everyday objects.
Then, Christo and Jeanne-Claude started creating poetic art installations that they fully paid for and offered to the public to enjoy.
It could be wrapping islands, a canyon, or an entire building. Usually for a short time, about two weeks, leaving no trace behind—the materials used are recycled.
Sixty years in the making
Wrapping a Parisian bridge, the Reichstag in Berlin, or the Arc de Triomphe is, on the face of it, a crazy idea.
Imagine trying to 'sell' a fairly insane idea to politicians! Explain they must allow you to create a fleeting moment of poetry, and see if they even understand what you are saying.
If the argument goes through, there are still plenty of authorizations and regulations to deal with.
That is why there were sixty years between the dream and the reality.
Jeanne-Claude died in 2009, and Christo in 2020, so they never got to see their vision realized.
Lifting a massive building as if it floats and breathes
A steel structure encased the Arc de Triomphe, which was then wrapped in fabric—silver on one side, blue on the other, wrapped with red ropes.
The effect looked like a sail vibrating in the wind, trying to lift the massive weight of the monument as if it were floating. At times, it also felt like the monument was breathing.
The silver gleam also meant the Arc de Triomphe constantly shimmered and flickered in the sun (see video below).
Seizing the opportunity for a lifetime memory
The pyramids will always be there whenever you go to Egypt.
But this was a one-off, lasting two weeks, something that will never happen again.
Like being surprised by a red sunset or a shooting star, to be in awe, we have to slow down and seize the moment, trying to imprint the picture in our minds.
Once an event is engraved in our memory, then it makes sense to take photos to capture and share that precious moment.
A Moment of Joy for a wide public
When Christo and Jeanne-Claude offered New York the installation The Gates in Central Park, New Yorkers needed a moment of poetry and contemplation.
The situation was similar in Paris, as it was not long after the pandemic confinement when Parisians yearned to get out and enjoy a poetic moment.
I went every other day and was there before the official opening.
My cousin works nearby, so I asked her to come and meet me. She did not know what was going on and asked:
What is this? Is this some sort of restoration?
I replied It's an art installation, stop overthinking things and look at it.
Like it was for me, it was her first time stopping and looking at the Arc de Triomphe. She smiled.
That was going to be the theme for the next two weeks. To my absolute delight, many of the visitors I saw and spoke to were not museumgoers. It was clear that some had never entered one.
They were hesitant. What is it? Can I touch it?
While the obvious answer in a museum is certainly not, here, it was the opposite. You should touch it!
People were there to hand out pieces of fabric for free. Here’s artwork you can look at, touch, and take a souvenir of with you! Don’t worry about knowing stuff, enjoy the ride.
The atmosphere was like a summer day when the ice cream truck handed out free ice cream rather than a strait-laced exhibition opening.
Contemporary art lovers came from far away to be there. Parisians came out of curiosity, took the kids or grandkids, and teenagers went to see an art event for the first time in their lives.
Art for the benefit of an entire city
The joy was tempered a few times when I bumped into people who whinged about the waste of money.
I believe I am qualified to state that the French are world champions in the art of complaining.
In France, when you write 'does not complain' on an administrative document, it's a death certificate.
So, I calmly explained that it did cost the city nothing, and the 14 million euros spent was a gift from the artists.
Then, the official numbers arrived: 6 million visitors—three times as many Parisians—.
Among the visitors, over 1 million came afar specifically to see The Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped.
Financially, the benefit for Paris was 235 million euros.
It is not difficult to quantify that benefit: 1 million people staying one weekend in Paris spend, between hotels and restaurants, 235 million, an impressive return on a 14 million investment.
The Moment of Wonder gifted to Parisians cannot be quantified but is immense.
Paris received everything for free, and its businesses gained millions of extra customers. City and State officials got their share of the wonder in the form of taxes.
And there are still politicians who say art is a waste of money!
Now you know how to speak with politicians when they cannot understand the benefits of a Moment of Wonder. Tell them it means money, tax, and employment.
But you know that a Moment of Wonder isn’t only good for you but for the people around you!
