Christo and Jeanne-Claude's 'The Gates' revived in AR and Exhibition
In February 2005, Central Park was transformed into an orange-hued wonderland, as 7,503 gates with flowing fabric panels lined the park's walkways.
The installation, which spanned 23 miles (37 kilometres), attracted an estimated four million visitors. Critics had mixed opinions on the work at the time, with some dismissing it as a "visual one-liner", while others saw it as a homage to the park's historical design. Despite this, 'The Gates' became an iconic moment in the city's art history.
In Central Park, visitors can now step into an interactive augmented reality (AR) experience that lets them relive the feeling of walking beneath the orange fabric panels. Available through the Bloomberg Connects app, this immersive AR journey – developed by the Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation, Dirt Empire, and Superbright – allows users to see digital replicas of the gates in real-time, synced with their surroundings. Users can scan signage along marked paths to unlock content about 'The Gates' and the artists' journey.
Igal Nassima, founder of Superbright Studios, explains the magic of the AR experience: "When it's sunny, the fabric will appear bright and glowing, matching the sunlight's direction based on where you are in the park. This makes the digital Gates feel more in tune with the real-world surroundings."
The interactive component highlights the artists' original goal to ensure that their works were never "redone" or permanently reconstructed. 'Christo and Jeanne-Claude never wanted to have their projects redone,' says Vladimir Yavachev, director of operations for the foundation. 'You can see it again with your phones.'
Beyond the park itself, at The Shed in Manhattan, the exhibition 'Christo and Jeanne-Claude: The Gates and Unrealized Projects for New York City' explores the artists' legacy through drawings, models, and a scale model of Central Park. The exhibition also highlights 13 other unrealised proposals for New York from the 1960s, shedding light on the duo's ambitious vision and deep connection to the city.
Patricia E. Harris of Bloomberg Philanthropies reflects on the lasting impact of 'The Gates', noting: 'It was a labour of love for the artists, and now, 20 years later, we have an opportunity to use technology to connect audiences with the artwork and celebrate its collaborative spirit with a new generation.'
Pascal Roulin, curator of the exhibition, highlights the goal of reaching new audiences: 'We are presenting the story to a new generation that was not in New York in 2005 and might have no idea that it had happened.'
Christo and Jeanne-Claude are celebrated for their monumental temporary art installations that transformed iconic landmarks. Among their other famous works are 'Wrapped Reichstag' (1995), which enveloped Berlin's parliament in shimmering fabric; and their posthumous work ' L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped' (2021), which saw the historic monument draped in 25,000 square metres of material.
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