For sixteen days – June 18 through July 3, 2016 (weather permitting) – Italy’s Lake Iseo is being transformed. One hundred thousand square meters of shimmering yellow fabric, carried by a modular floating dock system of 220,000 high-density polyethylene cubes, undulate with the movement of the waves as The Floating Piers rise just above the water’s surface.
The Experience
Visitors can explore this artwork by walking on it from Sulzano to Monte Isola and to the island of San Paolo, framed by The Floating Piers. Additionally, the mountains surrounding the lake offer a bird’s-eye view, revealing unnoticed angles and altering perspectives.
Lake Iseo is located 100 kilometers east of Milan and 200 kilometers west of Venice. “Like all of our projects, The Floating Piers is absolutely free and accessible 24 hours a day, weather permitting,” said Christo. “There are no tickets, no openings, no reservations, and no owners. The floating dock is an extension of the street and belongs to everyone.”
The Walkway
A 3-kilometer-long walkway extends across the water of Lake Iseo. The piers are 16 meters wide and approximately 35 centimeters high with sloping sides. Furthermore, the fabric continues along 2.5 kilometers of pedestrian streets in Sulzano and Peschiera Maraglio.
“Those who experience The Floating Piers will feel like they are walking on water – or perhaps the back of a whale,” said Christo. “The light and water will transform the bright yellow fabric to shades of red and gold throughout the sixteen days.”
The Story
In the spring and summer of 2014, Christo, Vladimir Yavachev – Operations Director, Wolfgang Volz – Project Manager, and Josy Kraft – Registrar/Curator, scouted the lakes of Northern Italy. Along with Project Director Germano Celant, they found Lake Iseo to be the most inspiring location. Since that time, they have worked alongside team members from around the world to realize The Floating Piers.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude first conceived The Floating Piers in 1970. It is Christo’s first large-scale project since The Gates in 2005 and Jeanne-Claude’s passing in 2009. As with all of their projects, The Floating Piers is funded entirely through the sale of Christo’s original works of art. After the 16-day exhibition, all components will be removed and recycled.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude have a long history of creating projects in Italy. These include Wrapped Fountain and Wrapped Medieval Tower in Spoleto (1968), Wrapped Monuments in Milan (1970), and The Wall – Wrapped Roman Wall in Rome (1973–74).
