Walking on water with Christo
The conceptual artist Christo has made it possible for regular folks to walk on water with his latest project, "The Floating Piers," on picturesque Lake Iseo in northern Italy.
The project, his 23rd, creates a nearly 2-mile undulating runway connecting the mainland with a pair of islands, one inhabited and towering above the lake. And people have been flocking to it in droves since it opened June 18, 2016. So much so that officials were forced to limit access by closing the installation down from midnight to 6am to protect it, though it was originally meant to stay open 24 hours a day. Since the opening at least 270,000 people have visited.
In this photo, people walk on the monumental installation on Iseo Lake on June 18, 2016. Some 200,000 floating cubes create a 3-kilometer runway connecting the village of Sulzano to the small island of Monte Isola on the lake, 60 miles from Milan, for a 16-day outdoor installation.
"The Floating Piers"
People walk on the monumental installation entitled "The Floating Piers" created by artist Christo Vladimirov Javacheff.
Christo is best known for "Wrapped Reichstag" in Berlin in 1995, which attracted five million people, and "The Gates" in New York City's Central Park in 2005, which drew two million visitors.
"The Floating Piers"
People walk on "The Floating Piers'" in northern Italy, June 24, 2016.
The artist describes the sensation as "walking on the back of a whale."
"The Floating Piers"
"The Floating Piers"
Entrance is free, with the entire cost of the 15 million euro ($17 million) project financed by the artist himself.
"The Floating Piers"
People walk on 'The Floating Piers." The deep yellow fabric dramatically shifts from nearly red to brilliant gold under the effects of light and humidity.
"The Floating Piers"
A man takes pictures of The Floating Piers."
There are 150 volunteers, among them lifeguards, who will be posted on the piers and on boats around the clock to ensure safety.
Swimming is forbidden -- but expected, despite the cold water temperatures. Entrance is free, with the entire cost of the 15 million euro ($17 million) project financed by the artist himself.
"The Floating Piers"
"The Floating Piers"
The project awakens many metaphors: Yellow brick road, for the fantastical journey it beckons. Runway, for the attention it commands. Beach for the lapping waves along the sloping edges of the more than 50-foot wide boulevard.
"The Floating Piers"
"The Floating Piers" was originally envisioned for the delta of Rio de la Plata, Argentina, in 1970 but the project failed to get necessary permissions. Christo then considered Tokyo Bay, but again failed to get the permits there as well.
"The Floating Piers"
A woman takes pictures of the monumental installation "The Floating Piers."
Entrance is free, with the entire cost of the 15 million euro ($17 million) project financed by the artist himself.
"The Floating Piers"
The crowded art installation.
"The Floating Piers"
People sit on the undulating art installation.
"The Floating Piers"
A person is reflected in a glass door as people walk on "The Floating Piers."
"The Floating Piers"
Christo chose Lake Iseo for its calm waters and simple shoreline against the majestic Alpine foothills that some believe may have inspired the background of Leonardo's "Mona Lisa."
Christo suggests the hypothesis is made believable by the misty effect created by the lake climate, softening the mountain contours. In a painterly gesture, he said he made sure that the project offered vistas not only of the mountains, but also of the lake's medieval towns and verdant flora.
"The Floating Piers"
The installation physically draws in visitors, demanding their participation to get the full experience. That's by the artist's design.
"The Floating Piers"
A woman poses for photos on "The Floating Piers."
"The Floating Piers"
People work on the monumental installation "The Floating Piers."
The fabric, was sewn into place by German seamstresses with specially made sewing machines, to create natural ruching. This effect prompts Christo to warn that visitors will have to step carefully along the oscillating platform.
"The Floating Piers"
Artist Christo Vladimirov Javacheff, known as Christo, walks on his installation "The Floating Piers."
"The Floating Piers"
A diver helps install "The Floating Piers."
"The Floating Piers"
"The Floating Piers" in progress.
"The Floating Piers"
People install "The Floating Piers."