The Umbrellas

California and Japan 1991

    Although the art made by Christo and Jeanne Claude may be appreciated to some simply only for shock value, because of the extremity and massiveness of the projects, the couple does have other intentions when creating a new piece of work. Take the umbrellas for instance, to anyone just viewing the project it just looks as though extremely large blue and yellow umbrellas were stuck in the ground of California and Japan in no orderly manner, but if you consider extrinsic information, one will realize that there is a very deliberate message the artists are trying to get across. The couple chose to use umbrellas because they symbolize, shelter, community and protection. The Japanese umbrellas are noticeable placed much closer together then the umbrellas located in California, this is done so that Christo and Jeanne Claude can show how much more overpopulated Japan is compared to the U.S., and how living space is viewed so differently in both countries. This Japan-USA temporary work of art reflects the similarities and differences in the ways of life and the use of the land in two inland valleys, and deals with urban planning.