Bulgarian artist Christo fills former natural gas tank
The outside installation is pictured during the unveiling of the installation 'Big Air Package' by artist Christo at the industrial memorial Gasometer in Oberhausen, Germany, Friday, March 15, 2013. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) Purchase photo reprints »
Bulgarian artist Christo gestures as he poses inside the installation 'Big Air Package' during the unveiling of the installation at the Gasometer in Oberhausen, Germany, Friday, March 15, 2013. Christo's latest monumental sculpture in the interior of the industrial monument can be seen from March 16 until Dec. 30, 2013. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) Purchase photo reprints »
Bulgarian artist Christo gestures as he poses inside the installation 'Big Air Package' during the unveiling of the installation at the Gasometer in Oberhausen, Germany, Friday, March 15, 2013. Christo's latest monumental sculpture in the interior of the industrial monument can be seen from March 16 until Dec. 30, 2013. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) Purchase photo reprints »
In this picture taken March 13, 2013 the 'Big Air Package' artwork by international artist Christo is seen at the Gasometer in Oberhausen, Germany, two days before the opening of the exhibition on March 15. Christo's latest monumental sculpture in the interior of the industrial monument reaches a height of more than 90 metres, a diameter of 50 metres and a volume of 177,000 cubic metres. The worlds largest self-supporting sculpture will be on show to the public from March 16 until Dec. 30, 2013. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) Purchase photo reprints »
In this picture taken March 13, 2013 the 'Big Air Package' artwork by international artist Christo is seen at the Gasometer in Oberhausen, Germany, two days before the opening of the exhibition on March 15. Christo's latest monumental sculpture in the interior of the industrial monument reaches a height of more than 90 metres, a diameter of 50 metres and a volume of 177,000 cubic metres. The worlds largest self-supporting sculpture will be on show to the public from March 16 until Dec. 30, 2013. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) Purchase photo reprints »
Bulgarian artist Christo stands inside his installation 'Big Air Package' during the unveiling at the Gasometer in Oberhausen, Germany, Friday, March 15, 2013. Christo's latest monumental sculpture in the interior of the industrial monument can be seen from March 16 until Dec. 30, 2013. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) Purchase photo reprints »
Bulgarian artist Christo stands inside his installation 'Big Air Package' during the unveiling at the Gasometer in Oberhausen, Germany, Friday, March 15, 2013. Christo's latest monumental sculpture in the interior of the industrial monument can be seen from March 16 until Dec. 30, 2013. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) Purchase photo reprints »
Bayern head coach Jupp Heynckes reacts during the Champions League round of 16 second leg soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and FC Arsenal in Munich, Germany, Wednesday, March 13, 2013. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader) Purchase photo reprints »
Visitors take pictures inside the installation 'Big Air Package' during the unveiling at the Gasometer in Oberhausen, Germany, Friday, March 15, 2013. Christo's latest monumental sculpture in the interior of the industrial monument can be seen from March 16 until Dec. 30, 2013. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) Purchase photo reprints »
Visitors take pictures inside the installation 'Big Air Package' during the unveiling at the Gasometer in Oberhausen, Germany, Friday, March 15, 2013. Christo's latest monumental sculpture in the interior of the industrial monument can be seen from March 16 until Dec. 30, 2013. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) Purchase photo reprints »
In this picture taken March 13, 2013 International artist Christo, right, explains to a visitor inside his 'Big Air Package' artwork at the Gasometer in Oberhausen, Germany, as he visits his work two days before the official opening of the exhibition on March 15, 2013. Christo's latest monumental sculpture in the interior of the industrial monument reaches a height of more than 90 metres, a diameter of 50 metres and a volume of 177,000 cubic metres. The worlds largest self-supporting sculpture will be on show for the public from March 16 until Dec. 30, 2013. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) Purchase photo reprints »
In this picture taken March 13, 2013 International artist Christo, right, explains to a visitor inside his 'Big Air Package' artwork at the Gasometer in Oberhausen, Germany, as he visits his work two days before the official opening of the exhibition on March 15, 2013. Christo's latest monumental sculpture in the interior of the industrial monument reaches a height of more than 90 metres, a diameter of 50 metres and a volume of 177,000 cubic metres. The worlds largest self-supporting sculpture will be on show for the public from March 16 until Dec. 30, 2013. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) Purchase photo reprints »
In this picture taken March 13, 2013 International artist Christo gestures inside his 'Big Air Package' artwork at the Gasometer in Oberhausen, Germany, as he visits his work two days before the official opening of the exhibition on March 15, 2013. Christo's latest monumental sculpture in the interior of the industrial monument reaches a height of more than 90 metres, a diameter of 50 metres and a volume of 177,000 cubic metres. The worlds largest self-supporting sculpture will be on show for the public from March 16 until Dec. 30, 2013. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) Purchase photo reprints »
In this picture taken March 13, 2013 International artist Christo gestures inside his 'Big Air Package' artwork at the Gasometer in Oberhausen, Germany, as he visits his work two days before the official opening of the exhibition on March 15, 2013. Christo's latest monumental sculpture in the interior of the industrial monument reaches a height of more than 90 metres, a diameter of 50 metres and a volume of 177,000 cubic metres. The worlds largest self-supporting sculpture will be on show for the public from March 16 until Dec. 30, 2013. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) Purchase photo reprints »
In this picture taken March 13, 2013 a visitor takes a picture inside the 'Big Air Package' artwork by international artist Christo at the Gasometer in Oberhausen, Germany. prior to the opening of the exhibition on March 15, 2013. Christo's latest monumental sculpture in the interior of the industrial monument reaches a height of more than 90 metres, a diameter of 50 metres and a volume of 177,000 cubic metres. The worlds largest self-supporting sculpture will be on show from March 16 until Dec. 30, 2013. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) Purchase photo reprints »
In this picture taken March 13, 2013 a visitor takes a picture inside the 'Big Air Package' artwork by international artist Christo at the Gasometer in Oberhausen, Germany. prior to the opening of the exhibition on March 15, 2013. Christo's latest monumental sculpture in the interior of the industrial monument reaches a height of more than 90 metres, a diameter of 50 metres and a volume of 177,000 cubic metres. The worlds largest self-supporting sculpture will be on show from March 16 until Dec. 30, 2013. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) Purchase photo reprints »
In this picture taken March 13, 2013 International artist Christo, right, explains to a visitor inside his 'Big Air Package' artwork at the Gasometer in Oberhausen, Germany, as he visits his work two days before the official opening of the exhibition on March 15, 2013. Christo's latest monumental sculpture in the interior of the industrial monument reaches a height of more than 90 metres, a diameter of 50 metres and a volume of 177,000 cubic metres. The worlds largest self-supporting sculpture will be on show for the public from March 16 until Dec. 30, 2013. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) Purchase photo reprints »
In this picture taken March 13, 2013 International artist Christo, right, explains to a visitor inside his 'Big Air Package' artwork at the Gasometer in Oberhausen, Germany, as he visits his work two days before the official opening of the exhibition on March 15, 2013. Christo's latest monumental sculpture in the interior of the industrial monument reaches a height of more than 90 metres, a diameter of 50 metres and a volume of 177,000 cubic metres. The worlds largest self-supporting sculpture will be on show for the public from March 16 until Dec. 30, 2013. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) Purchase photo reprints »
In this picture taken March 13, 2013 International artist Christo, left, stands with a visitor inside his 'Big Air Package' artwork at the Gasometer in Oberhausen, Germany, two days before the official opening of the exhibition on March 15, 2013. Christo's latest monumental sculpture in the interior of the industrial monument reaches a height of more than 90 metres, a diameter of 50 metres and a volume of 177,000 cubic metres. The worlds largest self-supporting sculpture will be on show to the public from March 16 to Dec. 30, 2013. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) Purchase photo reprints »
In this picture taken March 13, 2013 International artist Christo, left, stands with a visitor inside his 'Big Air Package' artwork at the Gasometer in Oberhausen, Germany, two days before the official opening of the exhibition on March 15, 2013. Christo's latest monumental sculpture in the interior of the industrial monument reaches a height of more than 90 metres, a diameter of 50 metres and a volume of 177,000 cubic metres. The worlds largest self-supporting sculpture will be on show to the public from March 16 to Dec. 30, 2013. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) Purchase photo reprints »
The outside installation is pictured during the unveiling of the installation 'Big Air Package' by artist Christo at the industrial memorial Gasometer in Oberhausen, Germany, Friday, March 15, 2013. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) Purchase photo reprints »
OBERHAUSEN, Germany (AP) — Artist Christo has unveiled his latest spectacular creation: a balloonlike installation that fills the inside of a former natural gas storage tank in Germany’s industrial Ruhr region.
Christo’s “Big Air Package,” an inflatable envelope made of translucent white polyester, rises 295 feet from the floor of the Gasometer in Oberhausen. It will be open to the public from Saturday through Dec. 30.
Christo’s structure is kept upright by air fans. Visitors enter through airlocks. Christo says the effect is to leave visitors “virtually swimming in light.”
The tank was converted into an exhibition hall after being taken out of service in 1988.
Christo and his late wife, Jeanne-Claude, in 1999 exhibited a wall made of 13,000 colored oil barrels at the Gasometer.
You must be registered to comment on stories. Click here to register.