“Legendary Site-Specific Installation ‘The Gates’ Makes a Comeback in New York City through Augmented Reality”
# **Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s *The Gates* Comes Back to New York—Now in Augmented Reality**
## **Celebrating Two Decades of Public Art**
On February 12, 2005, renowned artists Christo Yavacheff and Jeanne-Claude introduced their expansive public art installation, *The Gates*, in Central Park, New York City. This temporary yet significant project featured 7,503 vivid saffron-hued fabric gates, spanning over 23 miles of pathways, transforming the park into a lively, immersive spectacle for two weeks. Now, twenty years later, in honor of its 20th anniversary, *The Gates* has made a comeback in New York—albeit in a contemporary, digital format.
## **Augmented Reality Rebirth in Central Park**
Thanks to technological advancements, guests in Central Park can now relive the experience of *The Gates* through an inventive **augmented reality (AR) experience** on the [Bloomberg Connects app](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bloomberg-connects/id1476456847). By using a smartphone, visitors can see a digital reproduction of roughly 5% of the original installation, reviving the striking visual allure of Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s creation.
The app integrates *The Gates* flawlessly into the park’s scenery, ensuring that each gate appears as if it is physically there. The AR technology even includes **environmental realism**, adapting to changes in daytime light, cloud cover, and the winter breeze that once caused the original saffron flags to flutter dramatically. The meticulous detail creates an experience where it feels as if history is playing out before your eyes.
David Harding, Bloomberg Connects’ Head of Product and Engineering, articulated the intricacy of this endeavor to *Time Out New York*:
> “The scale and scope in a difficult outdoor setting like this truly pushes boundaries.”
Vladimir Yavachev, director of projects for Christo and Jeanne-Claude, supported this view, stating that the AR experience is “as close to the real thing as they could manage.”
The AR experience also enables visitors to **capture photos and videos**, allowing them to share their personal experiences with a piece of public art history, now reinvented through digital means. This accessibility makes the encounter appealing not only to those who witnessed *The Gates* in 2005 but also to newcomers who missed its initial presentation.
## **Complementary Exhibition at The Shed**
Alongside the AR experience in Central Park, The Shed—a multidisciplinary arts space in Manhattan’s Hudson Yards—hosts a **detailed exhibition** dedicated to *The Gates* and other unrealized projects by Christo and Jeanne-Claude. Titled *Christo and Jeanne-Claude: The Gates and Unrealized Projects for New York City*, this exhibition provides a unique behind-the-scenes glimpse into the creation of *The Gates* and the artistic vision of the duo.
**The exhibition features:**
– **Original drawings** and **concept sketches** that illustrate the development of *The Gates*
– **Scale models** of the installation
– **Physical pieces** from the 2005 Central Park installation
– **Animated AR depictions** of *The Gates* projected onto a large map of the original installation site
In addition to *The Gates*, the exhibition explores the artists’ **unrealized projects for New York City**, emphasizing Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s ambitious artistic aspirations that never materialized. As The Shed outlines in its official [exhibition statement](https://www.theshed.org/program/441-christo-and-jeanne-claude-the-gates-and-unrealized-projects-for-new-york-city), the show highlights:
> “The duo’s ambitious and innovative spirit and their profound connection to the city they cherished from 1964 until their passing.”
The exhibition is free to the public and runs until **March 23, 2025**, providing art enthusiasts and curious visitors ample opportunity to delve into the rich legacy of these pioneering artists.
## **Merging Past and Future through Art and Technology**
The return of *The Gates* via augmented reality signifies a vital evolution in how public art can be preserved, interpreted, and made available across generations. Christo and Jeanne-Claude were celebrated for their **ephemeral, breathtaking installations**, which typically existed for only a few weeks before deconstruction. Nevertheless, through advancements in **digital preservation and immersive technology**, works like *The Gates* continue to resonate long after their physical presence has faded.
For those who experienced *The Gates* in 2005, this AR installation offers a nostalgic return. For younger audiences and those who were unable to attend the original event, it presents an engaging opportunity to connect with a landmark of cultural history.
As public art increasingly embraces technology, initiatives like this exemplify the effectiveness of digital tools in keeping artistic legacies lively and accessible. Whether observed through a