CHRISTO - SURROUNDED ISLANDS 1980-1983

SURROUNDED ISLANDS, BISCAYE BAY, GREATER MIAMI, FLORIDA. 1980-1983

Publisher: Arc-en-Ciel Art Foundation                                                  Editor: Hara Museum of Contemporary Art
Published: 1990
Format: Softcover                                                                            Language: Japanese and English
Condition: Very good

Christo’s Surrounded Islands (1980-1983) was a large-scale installation in Biscayne Bay, surrounding 11 islands between Miami, North Miami, Miami Shores, and Miami Beach with 6.5 million square feet of pink polypropylene fabric. The fabric extended 200 feet from each island, following the natural contours of the land, creating a striking visual contrast with the tropical vegetation, the waters of the bay, and the Miami sky. The project also required extensive environmental work, including the removal of over 40 tons of debris, such as discarded appliances and traces of rituals.

The realization of Surrounded Islands involved years of meticulous planning, coordination with experts, and securing permits from various authorities. The fabric was sewn into 79 custom patterns, reinforced with flotation strips, and anchored to the seabed with specially designed systems. In May 1983, a 430-person crew began unfurling the fabric, with 120 monitors overseeing the installation around the clock. This ephemeral work not only highlighted Miami's relationship with its surroundings but also transformed a familiar landscape into something extraordinary for a brief time.

Dimensions: 25 x 23cm