BERLIN.- In June, Berlin will celebrate 30 years since Christo and Jeanne-Claude transformed the Reichstag into a monumental work of art. On that occasion, a mapping projected onto the West facade of the building will commemorate the project that was realized in 1995, while the Neue Nationalgalerie will exhibit the iconic Wrapped Volkswagen Beetle Saloon, 1963-2014.


🏗️ Explore the monumental art of Christo and Jeanne-Claude! Shop their incredible books on Amazon.


After a prolonged and complex struggle through the political and bureaucratic challenges of the 1970s, '80s, and '90s, Wrapped Reichstag was finally realized on June 24, 1995. The artwork was executed by a team of 90 professional climbers and 120 installation workers, who wrapped the historic building in 100,000 square meters (1,076,390 square feet) of thick, woven polypropylene fabric with a shimmering aluminum surface, secured by 15.6 kilometers (9.7 miles) of blue polypropylene rope. Seventy custom-fitted fabric panels—twice the building’s surface area—were used to wrap the façades, towers, and roof.

For a period of two weeks, the richness of the silvery fabric, shaped by the blue ropes, created a sumptuous flow of vertical folds highlighting the features and proportions of the imposing structure, revealing the essence of the Reichstag. All materials were then recycled.

As with all of Christo and Jeanne-Claude's projects, Wrapped Reichstag was entirely financed by the artists through the sale of Christo's original works of art. The artists did not accept sponsorship of any kind.

"In 1971, Christo and Jeanne-Claude conceived the audacious idea to wrap the Reichstag. It took 24 years, including a 70-minute debate in the German parliament, to approve and make their vision a reality," reminds Vladimir Yavachev, Christo’s nephew and director of projects of the artist couple. "In June 1995, just five years after German reunification, Wrapped Reichstag uplifted Berlin for 14 unforgettable days, demonstrating the power of imagination and persistence. Now, 30 years later, the temporary projections on this historic building serve as a powerful reminder of both history and the impact of public art."

From June 9 to 20, 2025, the mapping projection on the Reichstag will remind visitors of what Christo and Jeanne-Claude's talent had bestowed upon it in 1995. Every evening after the sunset until 1AM, the entire west façade of the Reichstag building will gradually be bathed in a light spectacle, and the journey through time will begin.

Using 24 synchronized projectors, the light installation has been created in collaboration with Roland Specker and Prof. Peter Schwenkow ; the visuals have been developed by Paris-based designer Anna Bacheva. It will offer a glimpse of what Wrapped Reichstag looked like in June 1995. The event is free of charge and privately financed by the organizers.

"We would like to invite everyone to this unique event! By staging the Reichstag as an illuminated wrapping, we are celebrating Berlin, reunification, democracy and art," say Roland Specker and Prof. Peter Schwenkow from the organizing company 30 Jahre Verhüllter Reichstag Schwenkow & Specker GmbH. "It is a tribute to the impressive Christo and Jeanne-Claude legacy and at the same time a gift for Berlin and for all people in the capital. With this grandiose light show, we, as Berliners, would like to say thank you for what Berlin was and is: a place of freedom, diversity, joy, and a place for people with great visions."

Meanwhile in Berlin

Wrapped Volkswagen Beetle Saloon, 1963-2014 presented at the Neue Nationalgalerie

Starting June 11, the Neue Nationalgalerie will present Wrapped Volkswagen Beetle Saloon, 1963-2014, a major work by Christo. The piece will be on view at the Berlin museum for one year.

“Christo's work stands for an always astonishing transformation of everyday life into art. We are very grateful to be able to exhibit a major work of the artist for a longer period”, says Joachim Jäger, deputy director of the Neue Nationalgalerie. “The Wrapped Volkswagen Beetle in itself is such a German icon that Christo in a way created a new interpretation of Germany.“



Artdaily participates in the Amazon Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn commissions by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. When you purchase through our links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. These commissions help us continue curating and sharing the art world’s latest news, stories, and resources with our readers.