The first and only of Christo and Jeanne-Claude's projects to span simultaneaously two continents, and one of their most spectacular and memorable creations: 1,340 blue six metre umbrellas were assembled and erected in Ibaraki, Japan, and 1,760 yellow umbrellas in California, USA. After months of gruelling process, the two countries united as the forest of umbrellas were opened simultaneously on both continents. The blue symbolised the plentitude of water in the Japanese terrain, and the yellow represented the heat of the American valley. For Christo the umbrellas were "freestanding, dynamic modules... which reflected the availability of the land in each valley, creating an invitational, inner space".

Christo and Jeanne-Claude's project T_he Umbrellas, Japan - USA, 1984-1991_ was the most ambitious and expensive project they have ever undertaken. This comprehensive project book documents the art work from conception to completion:

* Many preparatory drawings and collages created by Christo before the completion
* Original documents of the permits negociations with representatives of government agencies, 17 in Japan and 27 in the USA, the 459 rice farmers in Ibaraki and 26 ranchers in California.
* The engineering process of the umbrella superstructure, through manufacturing, and the installation of The Umbrellas.
* Entries from Christo and Jeanne-Claude's diary.
* The book includes two 24 x 24 cm samples of the original fabric used for the blue and yellow umbrellas.
* The book is entirely designed by Christo.

The umbrellas were removed after two weeks, but the memories of this unrepeatable and transient endeavour have been collected in this official book of documentation: Thousands of photographs, plans, sketches, notes and a retrospective text provide the core source material, covering every stage of the project from inception to aftermath. A very special edition indeed.

**Limited edition of 2,500 copies worldwide, each signed and numbered by Christo, Jeanne-Claude and Wolfgang Volz**