The oldest bridge in Paris will transform into a cave thanks to an art installation

Paris - Pont Neuf, the oldest preserved bridge in Paris, will be transformed into a long, monumental cave made of fabric and air thanks to an installation by French artist known as JR for several weeks. This is reported by the AFP agency, which states that the work will change the face of the city from June 6 to June 28.

Workers began the installation of the artwork this week. The bridge is closed to traffic, and two enormous cranes have been installed on the pavement. "It's a very complex operation involving a total of 800 people," JR stated. The transformation of the Paris bridge is not his first colossal installation, but he described it as one of "the craziest projects in terms of scale and technique."

The 43-year-old artist, easily recognizable by his hat and black glasses, rose to prominence with his large-format photographic collages and optical illusions exhibited from favelas in Rio de Janeiro to Nepal and New York.

An inflatable canvas structure will be created on the bridge, which spans the Seine River in the city center. Combining white, black, and various shades of gray, it will create an optical illusion of a rocky appearance. The artificial cave will measure 120 meters in length, 20 meters in width, and reach heights of up to 18 meters in some places.

For three weeks, visitors will be able to access the cave completely free of charge at any time of day or night. The installation will be accompanied by a musical backdrop created by Thomas Bangalter from the duo Daft Punk.

According to the artist, this temporary work aims to connect rawness and wildness with the refined elegance of Paris, creating a dialogue between the past and the present. The theme of the cave "connects us with the history of humanity, regardless of the continent." "There’s a certain unknown, a fear of entering the cave, and at the same time fascination," JR described.

The temporary work is intended as a tribute to Christo and Jeanne-Claude, the late artistic duo who wrapped Pont Neuf in fabric in 1985, attracting millions of visitors according to AFP. At that time, these artists had to contend, in particular, with political opposition. Since then, according to JR, Paris has gotten used to hosting grandiose projects of contemporary art.

"It's a lively city, where history continues to be written, and that with respect for the stone and the monuments," added the artist, who previously created, for instance, a giant collage around the pyramid of the Louvre Museum.