29 Jul Floating Piers: Iseo Lake in the history of contemporary art
We've all been anxiously awaiting an unique event and unique in the world and was chosen Italy and more specifically the Iseo Lake for its realization. The Floating Piers is the temporary installation realized by the American artist Christo Vladimirov Yavachev. Those who had the chance to see it already know what is it, but for those who didn’t have the opportunity in this article will discover more about what is it and its peculiarities.
Christo is the pseudonym of the bulgarian artist Christo Vladimirov Yavachev, born in 1935. In 1958 he met in Paris Jeanne-Claude Denat de Guillebon and since then they never separated.
The two artists are the creator of the Land Art: the art of intervening on the landscape and to modify it temporary. The Christo projects require years of planning and preparatory work, despite being destined to remain set up for a few weeks.
All the most impressive productions of Christo drew people from all over the world and The floating piers was not an exception. Compared to previous works, the walkway had an added value, which is the ability not just to admire the work but to experience it in person experiencing the thrill of walking on the lake.
The walkway conjoined Sulzano to the coast of Monte Isola (the largest island inside the lake but also the' highest lake island of' Europe) embraced the southern stretch of coastline going up to the village of Sensole finishing to circumnavigate the small island of San Paolo, assets of the Beretta family owner of the homonymous Beretta Arms Factory.
The Floating Piers was conceived by Christo and Jeanne-Claude in 1970, determined to create a wharf suspended on the water. The first location was selected in Argentina, on the Río de la Plata, but the couple did not get the necessary permits.
Twenty-five years after they attempted in Japan, more precisely in Tokyo, but also in this case they didn’t obtain the permission.
In 2014 Christo recognized the Iseo Lake as the most evocative setting to realize his vision. The tests on the floating structure were conducted on the Black Sea in Bulgaria, the artist's native land.
This event was considered among the worldwide most important event of 2016. There are countless publications who have published extensive articles on the Floating Piers.
Christo presented the project with this words:
"You will walk on water, better if you come without shoes ... it will be a walk long three kilometers and you'll hear the waves under your feet.
The walkway will be recyclable: after 16 days i twill be finish and it will be destroyed. "
"But then there will not be anything left?"
"It will remain in your hearts."
