THE MASTABA A NEW MONUMENT FOR ABU DHABI

Desert designs

A project 33 years in the making, The Mastaba is no ordinary art installation. Taller than the Great Pyramids and wrought from 410,000 coloured barrels, this imposing structure is set to stand in the heart of the Liwa desert, towering over the surrounding dunes.

This will be the only permanent installation by design duo Christo and Jeanne-Claude, whose previous works of environmentally themed public art include The Gates in Central Park, New York in 2005 and The Pont Neuf Wrapped in 1985.

This new piece came about following a series of visits to Abu Dhabi in the late seventies during which the eccentric New York-based artists developed the idea with civil engineers and local officials. The aim then was to create a vast mastaba – an ancient geometric form that originated in Arabia.

 

 

Now, this long-held ambition is to be realised, but sadly without the support of its co-founder and Christo’s wife, Jeanne-Claude, who passed away in 2009. It was this event that fuelled Christo’s desire to complete the project and now Abu Dhabi can look forward to adding ‘world’s tallest art installation’ to its long list of world records.

 

The Mastaba by Christo and Jeanne-Claude

For more information take a look at the artists’ website where videos and sketches offer a detailed insight into the project. https://christojeanneclaude.net/projects/the-mastaba?view=info#.VIhH-KSUcvF

There’s also a book on the subject published by Taschen available at Mosaique Boutique in Abu Dhabi.

For more information about Mosaique boutique, click here.

All images © Christo and Jeanne-Claude

 

 

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