Joanna Chabas, edited by Mélanie Faure 3:45 p.m., September 13, 2021

Place de l'Étoile is getting ready to unveil the work of artist-plastic Christo.

The workers are busy covering the Parisian monument with the last ropes, arousing the curiosity of passers-by who will be able to admire from September 18 to October 3 the latest creation by the artist Christo, who died in May 2020.

REPORTING

The last work of the plastic artist Christo, who died in May 2020, is about to see the light of day.

In Paris, the Arc de Triomphe wore a long white, blue and red sheet at the start of the week.

Something to arouse the curiosity of passers-by, Place de l'Étoile.

Indeed, one of the most famous monuments of Paris will be packed until October 3, making a reality the dream of Christo and Jeanne-Claude to sign the work

L'Arc de Triomphe empaqueté

, imagined in 1961. In May 2020, the Bulgarian artist would die at the age of 84.

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The whole monument is covered with a silvery fabric that reflects the sunlight and ripples with the wind.

Workers gradually abseil down one of the facades to hang the last wires at ground level.

The curious have their noses raised to heaven.

Michelle comes to see the progress of the project every day: "Already, it makes it a lot less severe. It's a magnificent drape. I think it will take the light very well. It's like a huge gift package and Christo gives us gifts every time he wraps a monument. It's titanic work and incredible, magnificent precision. "

Already in 1985, Christo made Paris his muse by packing the Pont-Neuf.

A self-funded work

The project cost 14 million euros, a sum that makes people cringe.

So, on the official website of the Parisian monument, it is specified that the work is "entirely self-financed thanks to the sale of the original works of Christo: collages, drawings of this project and others as well as models, works of the 1950s -1960 and lithographs. It will not benefit from any other public or private funding ", we can still read.

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This delighted Coraline, a passer-by met by Europe 1: "When I heard the price, at the time, I said to myself a bit like everyone else, I think, that we might have done better to put more the money elsewhere. Now it comes from the artist's very foundation, so it doesn't cost the taxpayer a dime. " 

In all, 3,000 meters of red rope remain to be installed to permanently pack the Arc de Triomphe.

Everything must be ready for Saturday, the day of the inauguration.

For the next three weekends, Place de l'Étoile will be completely pedestrianized to allow visitors to make the most of Christo's work.