Here’s Why The Arc De Triomphe Was Just Wrapped In Fabric

Enlarge this image

The Arc de Triomphe in Paris is seen wrapped in fabric, in a posthumous art project that is an homage to the late artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude .

hide caption

toggle caption

Julien Mattia/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

YouTube

The massive monument is now covered in 25,000 square meters of recyclable polypropylene fabric that is a silver-blue color, along with 3,000 meters of red rope. The installation will remain in place for 16 days, officially running from Sept. 18 to Oct. 3.

«No tickets are needed to see, approach, and touch the work of art,» the project website states, adding that «Place de l’Étoile will be closed to vehicular traffic on the weekend for pedestrians to enjoy the work of art.»

There is one caveat for anyone hoping to take splashy photos to post on social media: selfie sticks are forbidden in the pedestrian area and the monument. Coronavirus precautions also apply.

Enlarge this image

Spectators and journalists watch as workers start the process of wrapping the Arc De Triomphe monument in Paris on Sept. 12.

hide caption

toggle caption

Siegfried Modola/Getty Images

Enlarge this image

Workers unravel a silvery blue fabric during the wrapping of the L’Arc de Triomphe in Paris, in a posthumous installation by the artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude. The couple had dreamed of the project for decades.

hide caption

toggle caption

Thomas Samson/AFP via Getty Images

YouTube

The French luminaries who unveiled the art installation on Thursday included Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and French President Emmanuel Macron. The two appeared alongside each other less than a week after Hidalgo announced she will challenge Macron in next year’s presidential election.

«In Paris, Christo and Jeanne-Claude dreamed of packaging the @ArcDeTriomphe,» Hidalgo said via Twitter. She thanked the teams who brought that dream to life — as well as «this couple whose works will remain among the most outstanding of our era.»

Enlarge this image

Rope access technicians look on during the inauguration of the Arc de Triomphe art installation in Paris, as the monument was wrapped in fabric as it was designed by the late artist Christo.

hide caption

toggle caption

Ludovic Marin/AFP via Getty Images

Rope access technicians look on during the inauguration of the Arc de Triomphe art installation in Paris, as the monument was wrapped in fabric as it was designed by the late artist Christo.

Ludovic Marin/AFP via Getty Images