International collection: Wrapped Coast

Photograph by Harry Shunk. Signed edition of 300 printed by La Poligrapha S.A. Barcelona, 1982. Copyright Christo 1969.

Modern Times is introducing selected limited edition artworks by some of the world’s most renowned and collectable artists. This work is part of this exciting new international collection.

This is a spectacular image of the first international project staged by environmental artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude, commissioned by Australian collector, John Kaldor. This project is now legendary in Australia’s cultural memory.

Wrapped Coast included one million square feet of fabric and 56.3 kilometers of rope shrouding a 2.4 kilometer long section of the Australian coastline and was the largest single artwork ever made at the time. The staggering scale of the project is evident in Harry Shunk’s now iconic image of the work.

Photographer, Harry Shunk, documented many important ephemeral artworks and performances of the twentieth century and these images not only provide important historical references but many are acknowedged as works of art in themselves.

 

Work in progress; men work  by harness to wrap 2.4km of coastline in 1 million sq feet of fabric, photograph by Harry Shunk.

 

Photograph by Harry Shunk of the staggering Wrapped Coastline by Christo and Jean-Claude

Photographer, Harry Shunk, documented many important ephemeral artworks and performances of the twentieth century and these images not only provide important historical references but many are acknowedged as works of art in themselves.

 

Photograph of Wrapped Roman Wall by Christo and Jeanne-Claude by Harry Shunk.

Harry Shunk’s documentation of ‘one-time-only’ events enables historically important artwork to be immortalized. For this reason, Shunk’s images are in collections of the major art institutions of the U.S. and Europe including the MOMA, New York; Pompidou, Paris and Tate Gallery, London. 

A contemporary re-framing of the image in an aluminium box frame reflects the cool palette and enhances its cinematic qualities.

Look out for the more of our International Collections online or pop in and see them in-store!

To see a little more about the Wrapped Coast, click here for a cool video put together by the Art Gallery of NSW.

 

For more details please contact us at [email protected] or call (03) 9913 8598