Christo's Quotes

The other exception where we did not at all restore the place to its original condition is the Surrounded Islands. Before we installed our fabric, we had our workers remove 42 tons of garbage off the beaches of those islands. We never brought the garbage back.

The other work we started in 1992, it is called Over the River, Project for the Arkansas River in the state of Colorado, we haven't got the permit yet. And, we are working at both of those, trying to get the permit. Therefore, we do not know which one will be realized next.

Therefore we have to go over the fact that all human beings are afraid by what is new. It is our work to convince them that they will enjoy it, and even if they don't, to allow us just for 14 days to create that work of art.

Therefore, when we arrive in a place and talk to new people about a new image, it is very hard for them to visualize it. That's where the drawings are very important, because at least we can show a projection of what we believe it will look like.

We have created indoor installations inside museums, like the Wrapped Floor at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago in 1968, and not monumental at all by any standards.

We tell them that we believe it will be beautiful because that is our specialty, we only create joy and beauty. We have never done a sad work. Through the drawings, we hope a majority will be able to visualize it.

The work of art is a scream of freedom.

Now, there is no way to say how long some projects take, that's our principle.

That could stay, not forever, because we believe that nothing exists that is forever, not even the dinosaurs, but if well maintained, it could remain for four to five thousand years. And that is definitely not forever.

Because we do not sell photographs, we have no royalties on books, posters, postcards.

But the drawings are not created only to be sold.

It is not only one person's work, it's really a partnership and collaboration during all these years.

Our work is a scream of freedom.

And for me, the real world involves everything: risk, danger, beauty, energy, all we meet with in the real world.

And the most unusual and surrealistic place in New York City is Central Park.

Every artist in the world likes his or her work to make people think.

If some of our works are symphonies, then wrapped walkways was chamber music.

It appears to be monumental only because it's art.

New York is our home.

The freedom of every artist is essential.

The only place where people in Manhattan walk for leisure is in the park.

To keep that absolute freedom we cannot be obliged to anyone.

We don't sell technical drawings except when they are incorporated into a drawing or a collage.

We wish to work in total freedom.

You see, we are not machines and we do not have lots of ideas in a drawer.

And for every project, because it takes years, you can see the early drawings and collages as just a simple, vague idea, and through the years and through the negotiations of getting the permit, you see that every detail is now clarified.