Earlier this year, I was floating away on one of the most magnificent art installations of the year.
The Floating Piers on Lago D’Iseo, Italy (* and I got the opportunity to see it! – and walk on it! – and sit on it! – and jump on it!)
For 16 days, between the 18th of June to the 3rd of July, Christo & Jeanne-Claude’s installation shimmered under the sun and danced with the gentle waves of the lake (* we could actually feel the walkways ‘breathing’ under our feet).
The incredible masterpiece made from a floating dock system of high-density polyethylene cubes stretched roughly 3km from Sulzano to Monte Isola and the island of San Paolo. Draped in saffron coloured fabric, that changed colour throughout the day, highlighted the surface of the lake as well as 2.5 km of pedestrian streets in Sulzano and Peschiera Maraglio.
However, getting to the lake proved to be a challenge for many. The Italian authorities were caught without a well thought out plan to deal with the surge of visitors coming into the area; over booked trains (* which at some point got suspended), long waiting lines (* some up to 5 hours), limited parking spaces and few ferries linking different parts of the island (* not to mention the summer heat of 30 degrees which did not help).
Luckily for us, our trip (* that started around 11 am) departing from Milan was quite smooth. 2 hours along the A35 highway and a 20 min walk (* we got picked up by an awesome bus driver halfway) from the parking spot to the main entrance at Sulzano was the only struggle. Upon arriving, we decided to grab a bite to eat before making our way to what we expected to be a very long queue.
With our bellies full, we headed over the to the main entrance and had to wait only 15 mins before setting foot on The Floating Piers! (* we were drenched as firefighters sprayed cool water from their trucks on the very grateful crowd waiting in the queue under the hot sun – what a rush!!)
Despite the humidity and the sun beating down on our backs, the experience was dreamy (* floatinggggg). The first walkway linked Sulzano to Monte Isola, which was rather crowded. We managed to slowly maneuver our way through the narrow cramped streets following the ‘yellow brick road’ to the other side of the island where we got onto the other walkways leading to the island of San Paolo (*much more room). It was surreal!
All components of the project were recycled after 16 days (* meaning that the lake returned to it’s original state as though nothing had happened) and all that is left now are the photographs and memories (* making the experience even more special).
People had come from all walks of life – Italians as well as foreigners all wanting in on the grand spectacle (* the walkways were also wheelchair accessible). Christo and Jeanne-Claude first conceived the project together in 1970 and it took 2 years between 2014 and 2016 to be realized and completed. The project was free and open to all making sure everyone who could make it, could experience the magic – Christo said, “There were no tickets, no openings, no reservations and no owners”.
For more information on the project, please visit The Floating Piers
karibu 