    
Symbol of a unified Germany past and present, Berlin's century-old Reichstag is a "sleeping beauty" for Christo. Since 1972 the Bulgarian-born artist has worked on a project for the parliament building called-what else?-"Wrapped Reichstag". Bundestag president Rita Sussmuth calls the idea "bold but worthwhile." Chancellor Helmut Kohl and other German politicos are opposed, grumbling that the last thing the Reichstag needs is the "attention of the cultural jet set." Christo's $7 million shrouding scheme calls for 200 rock climbers to lash thousands of square meters of glistening silver nylon onto the building with rope. The ideal light in Berlin, he explains, occurs in
late August or early September. IT'S A WRAP! CHRISTO'S PAEAN TO A "SLEEPING BEAUTY," ALSO KNOWN AS THE REICHSTAG PHOTO CREDIT: REGIS BOSSU-SYGMA |
ART