In May 1983, Christo and Jeanne-Claude encircled 11 manmade uninhabited islands in Miami’s Biscayne Bay with 6.5 million m2 feet of floating, pink, woven polypropylene fabric. For just under two weeks, the results harmonised with water, sky, and foliage, creating a vivid composition in blue, green, pink, and turquoise. Despite its short duration, Surrounded Islands made a lasting impact on the city’s cultural history, marking the birth of Miami’s international artistic profile while anticipating its rise as a hub for contemporary art.
Surrounded Islands was an endeavour of epic ambition. It is a narrative of empowerment, exemplifying the idea that lone individuals are capable of marshalling large civic forces to bring their dreams to fruition—and that with determination, willpower, and compelling vision, anything is possible.