CHRISTO AND JEANNE-CLAUDE WRAP THE WORLD

A glimpse into the passion to create as manifested in the marriage of two 20th-century dynamos.

The protagonists, both White, are introduced as young adults, their likenesses framed on the wall. Christo is “a poor refugee…whose father once ran a fabric factory,” while Jeanne-Claude is “the rich stepdaughter of a French general.” They meet when Christo arrives at Jeanne-Claude’s parents’ home to paint their portraits. Witty repartee turns into genuine interest; she comprehends the meaning of the wrapped objects in his apartment: “It’s revealing—while concealing.” Thus begins a love affair with each other and with implementing large-scale projects to help people see. Many installations are depicted, but Neri focuses more on the reasons for temporarily wrapping buildings, coastlines, islands—art as an experience to live on in memory, as a “scream of freedom,” or, as a young visitor to the fabric-ensconced L’Arc de Triomphe (2021) declares, “Because when you wrap something, it’s a gift.” An author’s note explains the combination of actual and invented dialogue. The palette is fairly muted, with the figures often portrayed in silhouettes or viewed from the back—a choice pairing well with the topic of coverings. This title complements Elisa Boxer’s Covered in Color (2022), illustrated by Susanna Chapman, which provides more background about Christo as well as photographs. Background characters are diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Thoughtful design and substantive content speak volumes about how to appreciate modern art—and its creators.