Husband and wife team Christo and Jeanne-Claude initially experimented with wrapping everyday items to create art. They were interested in the effect on identity that the swathing of objects caused. <br><br><br>Their ambitions grew, with an ultimate desire to create large scale works encompassing whole environments. The idea of wrapping a building in fabric developed: to alter its form and perception within its surroundings. <br><br>In 1995 their ambition was realised when they succeeded in wrapping the German parliament building, the Reichstag, in 100,000m2 of silver-grey fabric<sup>1</sup>. It was a colossal achievement both in terms of planning and execution. There had been much political disapproval due to the historic sensitivity of the building, and much planning and regulatory bureaucracy to overcome. <br><br>The duo’s rigorous working ethos eventually led to the approval of the scheme. The immense cost of the project was entirely self-financed through the private sale of their early works. The artists also won favour by committing to recycle materials.<br><br><br>A central facet of their work is that it is temporary. This transient element is intrinsic to the piece: it can only be experienced over a short period of time. The intensity of interest that is generated is integral to the artwork; the wrapping of the Reichstag attracted 5 million visitors over a 14 day period. The artists intended their sculpture to act as a participatory piece. The extensive planning phase, the physical fabrication, and the visitor experience all came together to constitute the artwork in its entirety.<br>