After 24 years of negotiation, the German Reichstag was fully wrapped in fabric and officially inaugurated, becoming an iconic work of temporary public art.
On June 24, 1995, "Wrapped Reichstag, Berlin" was officially inaugurated, with the historic German parliament building entirely enveloped in 1,076,391 square feet of thick woven polypropylene fabric with an aluminum surface, bound by blue rope. The wrapping remained in place for two weeks, during which an estimated five million people visited to witness the transformation.
The path to realization had spanned 24 years, beginning with the artists' first proposal in 1971. Jeanne-Claude played a central diplomatic role, lobbying members of the German Bundestag directly and helping secure the historic parliamentary vote in February 1994 that finally granted permission — a rare instance of a national legislature voting on an artwork.
The project carried immense symbolic weight: the Reichstag had witnessed the rise and fall of German democracy, the scars of Nazi rule, and the division and reunification of Germany. Wrapping it just years after reunification (1990) resonated as an act of collective renewal and reflection, drawing global media attention. The event is frequently cited as one of the most successful and emotionally resonant works of public art in the 20th century, and it stands as the definitive testament to Jeanne-Claude's persistence, political acumen, and shared vision with Christo, proving that monumental temporary art could unite a nation in celebration rather than division.