Wrapped in silver: Paris' Arc De Triomphe is now wrapped in 270,000 sq ft of fabric

One of the most famous attractions in Paris, the Arc De Triomphe is currently wrapped in 270,000 sq ft long silvery fabric, and the site has taken tourists by surprise. The landmark monument will remain under wraps for the next few weeks.

The project, Wrapped, was supposed to happen in the fall of 2020 but got delayed because of the pandemic situation.
The project was originally conceived by the maker of the monument, Christo, and his wife and artistic partner, Jeanne-Claude. They started planning to wrap the monument in fabric back in the 60s, but Christo passed away in May of 2020.

"L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped, Paris, 1961-2021"
Une œuvre de #ChristoandJeanneClaude à découvrir du 18 septembre au 3 octobre 2021 ! #ChristoParis @ChristoandJC @leCMN @Paris pic.twitter.com/IQhDxdVKmN

— Arc de triomphe (@ArcDeTriomphe) September 17, 2021

Simon Shaw, Vice Chairman of the Global Fine Arts Division at Sotheby’s, said, “Until his last breath, Christo worked tirelessly on this project, his last ‘temporary exhibition’ as he liked to call it. And these original works indeed open a window onto the magical imagination of the late artist, the joy and wonder he found in preparing his most ambitious installation.”


It was Christo’s nephew, Vladimir Yavatchev, who funded the entire project and spent nearly $16.5 million (INR 1,21,82,73,375). Yavatchev said, “The biggest challenge for me is that Christo is not here. I miss his enthusiasm, his criticisms, his energy and all of these things. That, for me, really is the biggest challenge.”

People can view the artwork from September 18 till October 3. But those visiting the Champs-Elysees can see the wrapped beauty already due to the proximity. An exhibition is also organised, wherein people will get a behind-the-scenes glimpse at Christo’s 60-year process to wrap the Arc de Triomphe.

More about Christo, the legendary artist


The world knows Christo for his larger-than-life installations. Some of his famous wrapping projects include New York City‘s Central Park and Berlin’s Reichstag parliament building. Beside the Arc de Triomphe, Christo had wrapped Paris’s Pont Neuf in yellow fabric in 1986.

The viewing will also go online for those who can’t make it to Paris. The show will be streamed live on social media platforms.