Artist Christo floats tomb of barrels in London's Hyde Park
Artist Christo stands in front of his work The London Mastaba, on the Serpentine in Hyde Park, London, Britain, June 18, 2018. REUTERS/Simon Dawson
LONDON (Reuters) - A 20-metre (22-yard) high sculpture of an ancient Egyptian tomb, made from 7,506 red, white and mauve barrels, has taken temporary residence amid the aquatic wildlife on a lake in London's Hyde Park.
The floating installation - featuring two vertical sides, two slanted sides and a flat top - was unveiled on Monday by Bulgarian-born artist Christo.
"For three months, The London Mastaba will be a part of Hyde Park's environment in the center of London," he said.
Michael Bloomberg speaks at the unveiling of Christo's work The London Mastaba, on the Serpentine in Hyde Park, London, Britain, June 18, 2018. REUTERS/Simon Dawson
"The colors will transform with the changes in the light and its reflection on the Serpentine Lake will be like an abstract painting."
Work started in April to stack the 55-gallon barrels into their cut-off pyramid shape on a floating platform 40 meters long and 30 meters wide. Thirty-two anchors hold the structure in place.
Christo, whose full name is Christo Javacheff, was joined at the launch by former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, chairman of the Serpentine Galleries.
A jogger runs past 'The London Mastaba' by artist Christo as it sits on the Serpentine in Hyde Park, London, Britain, June 18, 2018. REUTERS/Simon Dawson
Christo and his wife Jeanne-Claude, who died in 2009, are known for such works as "The Gates", a 2005 installation in New York’s Central Park, and the wrapping of the Reichstag in Berlin in 1995.
(Writing by Patrick Johnston; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
A man looks at swans as the 'The London Mastaba' by artist Christo stands beyond in the Serpentine in Hyde Park, London, Britain, June 18, 2018. REUTERS/Simon DawsonThe London Mastaba by artist Christo sits on the Serpentine in Hyde Park, London, Britain, June 18, 2018. REUTERS/Simon Dawson'The London Mastaba' by artist Christo sits on the Serpentine in Hyde Park, London, Britain, June 18, 2018. REUTERS/Simon DawsonCyclists ride past 'The London Mastaba' by artist Christo as it sits on the Serpentine in Hyde Park, London, Britain, June 18, 2018. REUTERS/Simon DawsonChristo stands next to Michael Bloomberg at the official unveling of his work The London Mastaba, on the Serpentine in Hyde Park, London, Britain, June 18, 2018. REUTERS/Simon DawsonPeople walk past 'The London Mastaba' by artist Christo as it sits on the Serpentine in Hyde Park, London, Britain, June 18, 2018. REUTERS/Simon DawsonPedestrians sit at a cafe in view of 'The London Mastaba' by artist Christo as it sits on the Serpentine in Hyde Park, London, Britain, June 18, 2018. REUTERS/Simon DawsonPeople pedal a pedalo infront of 'The London Mastaba' by artist Christo as it sits on the Serpentine in Hyde Park, London, Britain, June 18, 2018. REUTERS/Simon DawsonThe sun reflects on oil barrels that make up Christo's work The London Mastaba, on the Serpentine in Hyde Park, London, Britain, June 18, 2018. REUTERS/Simon DawsonPedestrians walk past 'The London Mastaba' by artist Christo as it sits on the Serpentine in Hyde Park, London, Britain, June 18, 2018. REUTERS/Simon DawsonChristo speaks at the unveiling of his work The London Mastaba, on the Serpentine in Hyde Park, London, Britain, June 18, 2018. REUTERS/Simon DawsonMichael Bloomberg speaks at the unveiling of Christo's work The London Mastaba, on the Serpentine in Hyde Park, London, Britain, June 18, 2018. REUTERS/Simon DawsonSwans paddle in front of Christo's work The London Mastaba, on the Serpentine in Hyde Park, London, Britain, June 18, 2018. REUTERS/Simon DawsonMichael Bloomberg speaks at the unveiling of Christo's work The London Mastaba, on the Serpentine in Hyde Park, London, Britain, June 18, 2018. REUTERS/Simon DawsonDucks and ducklings paddle in front of Christo's work The London Mastaba, on the Serpentine in Hyde Park, London, Britain, June 18, 2018. REUTERS/Simon DawsonArtist Christo stands in front of his work The London Mastaba, on the Serpentine in Hyde Park, London, Britain, June 18, 2018. REUTERS/Simon Dawson
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