Key lessons
- The Gates was a site-specific artwork by Christo and Jeanne-Claude , featuring 7,503 gates along 23 miles of paths in Central Park .
- The original installation was unveiled in 2005 and generated approximately $254 million in economic activity across New York City.
- The augmented reality experience allows users to relive the original installation and interact with it in a new way, using a mobile device to view the portals in 3D.
- The project was entirely funded by Christo and Jeanne-Claude , at a total cost of $16 million.
- The augmented reality experience is available from February 12 to March 23 and can be accessed through the Bloomberg Connects app.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude's iconic installation, The Gates , is brought back to life in Central Park through augmented reality. This innovative technology allows visitors to rediscover this major work in a new light.
A legendary public art installation in New York
The Gates marked the history of public art in New York City. The work, installed in 2005, consisted of 7,503 saffron-colored gates deployed along 23 miles of paths in Central Park . Over the course of 16 days , approximately 4 million visitors admired this unique installation, a reflection of Christo and Jeanne-Claude 's unparalleled vision and creativity.
This art project had a significant impact, generating approximately $254 million in economic activity for New York City. Today, thanks to augmented reality , The Gates can be explored in a new and immersive way, offering an interactive and innovative experience.
A new immersive experience thanks to augmented reality
Augmented reality technology allows users to relive The Gates interactively. Using a mobile device, they can view the gates in 3D and walk through Central Park as if they were in the original installation. This innovative project is made possible through a collaboration between the Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation , The Shed , and Bloomberg Philanthropies .
The experience is accessible through the Bloomberg Connects app, which offers users the opportunity to experience this digital recreation for free . The app uses GPS data , sensors and the devices' cameras to provide a seamless and realistic immersion.
A tribute to a timeless work of art in Central Park
The reintroduction of The Gates in augmented reality celebrates the 20th anniversary of this legendary installation. This initiative not only revives a masterpiece of the past, it also illustrates how technology can enrich our interaction with public art .
Visitors can now see and experience The Gates in augmented reality in ways they never imagined before, including along the 72nd Street trails in Central Park .
Jean Dubreil