BE OPEN BLOG

Buildings wrapped in fabric have become a compelling way for artists to transform urban landscapes, adding a dynamic layer of visual intrigue and tactile presence to otherwise ordinary spaces. These installations often play with the idea of impermanence, using fabric’s flexible, flowing nature to create an ephemeral dialogue between the environment and the artwork. Whether draping buildings, framing public squares, or enveloping natural landscapes, these fabric-based works invite both engagement and reflection, offering a unique way for communities to interact with art in their daily surroundings.

Back in 2021, Paris saw L’Arc de Triomphe Wrapped, an installation by the late artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude. This monumental project comprised the iconic Arc de Triomphe on the Champs-Élysées enveloped in 25,000 square metres of silvery, recyclable fabric, secured with 7,000 metres of red rope.

The fabric and ropes used in the installation were made from polypropylene, a recyclable thermoplastic, reflecting Christo’s commitment to sustainability. Christo had long envisioned the materials as elements that would move in the wind and reflect light, transforming the monument into what he described as “a living object” – a dynamic experience that would invite people to interact with it.

The project fulfilled the “life-long dream” of Christo and Jeanne-Claude, who had first conceived of the idea in 1961. However, it was only after Jeanne-Claude’s death in 2009 that Christo was able to fully realise the vision. Tragically, Christo passed away in 2020, just a year before the installation was completed. The execution of L’Arc de Triomphe Wrapped was carried out by his team, in collaboration with the Centre des Monuments Nationaux, the Centre Pompidou, and the City of Paris, ensuring the completion of this long-anticipated project.

As part of the installation, the large Place Charles de Gaulle – the traffic-heavy junction surrounding the monument – was temporarily pedestrianised, allowing visitors to experience the artwork up close and touch the fabric. The Arc’s terrace, along with its interior, was also open to the public, providing a unique vantage point for those wanting to take in the full scale of the installation.

In December 2023, renowned digital artist and designer Andrés Reisinger unveiled Take Over Miami, a groundbreaking public art installation that marked the first time his viral digital art series was physically manifested. Presented during Miami Art Week at the Miami Design District, this bold new work transformed the city into a surreal, pink-hued dreamscape, offering an immersive experience that blurred the lines between the digital and the physical worlds.

Reisinger’s Take Over series, which he first launched in January 2023, began as an exploration of creative freedom and the democratization of art in the digital age. The series reimagines iconic global landmarks and cityscapes by draping them in flowing pink fabric, seamlessly blending hyper-realistic digital elements into real-world architecture. These re-envisioned spaces challenge viewers to rethink the nature of “reality” in art—provoking a deeper conversation about perception, temporality, and the role of the digital medium in shaping human experience.

The Take Over project originally existed as a digital phenomenon, with its stunning visuals circulating widely across social media platforms. In this virtual format, the work’s ephemeral nature invited questions about its location and permanence—concepts that are central to Reisinger’s exploration of authenticity in art. He believes that what truly makes something real is its capacity to evoke an emotional or experiential response, whether it exists in the physical world or in a virtual space.

With Take Over Miami, Reisinger took his digital vision into the physical realm, transforming the Miami Design District into a tactile, larger-than-life installation. The monumental pink drapes that characterize the Take Over series enveloped the surrounding architecture. By doing so, Reisinger created a space that felt both alien and familiar, a striking fusion of tangible and virtual elements.

This physical manifestation of Take Over represents a pivotal moment in Reisinger’s career, as it bridges the realms of the virtual and the real, inviting the public to experience his work as a living, breathing space. It also signals a larger trend in the art world, where the boundaries between digital and physical media are increasingly fluid, and new technologies open up exciting possibilities for immersive and participatory art.

New York City-based design studio Behin Ha has unveiled Circle and Square, a striking mesh fabric installation in a vibrant orange hue, located at a newly developed mixed-use complex in Hangzhou, China.

The installation consists of 426 coated mesh fabric ribbons, meticulously stretched from the building’s roofline to the ground. These ribbons are anchored at the base in circular arrays, forming two distinct outdoor spaces. The arrangement creates a dynamic interplay of visual overlaps, density, and transparency as the ribbons shift in density across the site, inviting visitors to explore and interact with the artwork. The bright orange color commands attention, sparking curiosity and encouraging engagement from passersby.

Collaborating with Chinese art consultancy Vantaly, Behin Ha ensured the local sourcing of materials and smooth construction management for the project. Circle and Square is a deliberate exploration of the relationship between art and architecture in public spaces. By transforming the building’s facade with these vibrant fabric ribbons, Behin Ha creates a temporary but impactful addition to Hangzhou’s evolving cultural landscape.

The installation invites visitors of all ages to step into the two circular spaces, where they can pause for personal reflection or come together to interact with others. The contrast between the linear top anchors and the curved ground patterns creates an intricate visual experience, while the suspended ribbons provide both a sense of enclosure and openness, allowing for moments of introspection or social interaction.

As a temporary yet captivating public artwork, Circle and Square enhances the vibrancy of the development, offering a space that is as much about physical interaction as it is about visual intrigue. Through this installation, Behin Ha continues to explore the intersections of art, architecture, and public space, leaving a lasting imprint on the cultural landscape of Hangzhou.