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Euronews
13-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Euronews
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.
CBS News
11-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
'The Gates' return to NYC's Central Park 20 years later, but in a new form
NEW YORK - The Gates art installation in Central Park made quite a mark on New York City back in 2005. They're back 20 years later, but this time in augmented reality. The Gates was a site-specific work of art by the duo Christo and Jeanne-Claude. There were 7,503 gates along 23 miles of footpaths throughout the park. A panel of saffron colored fabric hung from each 16-foot-high gate for just 16 days in February 2005. It cost about $21 million at the time. The Gates in Central Park 2025 Now, there's a commemorative exhibit on display at The Shed in Hudson Yards and, starting Wednesday, there's the augmented reality experience in the park. Here's how it works. When you get to Central Park, open the Bloomberg Connects app on your phone, look for a display with a QR code and scan it. You will soon find yourself in the public art installation from 2005. "We have the photographs and we have the film footage. This is (a) more interactive and more (on site) record of how the project looked," said Vladimir Yavachev, the director of projects for Christo and Jeanne-Claude. The Gates in 2005 Those who worked on the original Gates project pointed out it's a significant part of the city's history after the 9/11 attacks. "The city was still recovering from that time and it was a really incredible moment to see everyone come out into the park to connect with one another," said Megan Sheekey of Bloomberg Associates. "In the newspapers during the project, which said it was so nice to see for the first time New Yorkers look up and enjoy, post 9/11," Yavachev told CBS News New York. Both hope New Yorkers of all ages are happy to see The Gates resurgence. "It was an incredibly meaningful project," Sheekey said. "For those of us that have nostalgia for the original project, it's a great celebration of that time but also for the next generation, I think it really is a testament to the power of public art."
