Artist Turns Famous Paris Bridge into a Cave

Paris, France —(Map)

The oldest bridge in Paris, France – the Pont Neuf – has been turned into a giant piece of art. A French artist named JR has covered the bridge in fabric, making it look like a mountain range. Inside is a walk-through experience for the senses called “The Cave of Pont Neuf.”

JR (which stands for Jean René) is a street artist known for making large public art displays. In one of his famous past efforts, he created an optical illusion that made the glass pyramid outside the Louvre in Paris appear like it had sunk into a hole made of white rocks.

JR (Jean René) is a street artist known for making large public art displays. In one of his famous past efforts, he created an optical illusion that made the glass pyramid outside the Louvre in Paris appear like it had sunk into a hole made of white rocks (above).

JR considers himself a student of Christo, a famous artist who wrapped the Pont Neuf in fabric over 40 years ago. Christo, who passed away in 2020, was known for creating massive art projects in famous locations around the world.

Christo’s nephew, Vladimir Yavachev, asked JR to create a large art project on the bridge as a way to honor Christo’s memory.

For this new project, JR wanted to turn the bridge into a cave, and make the outside look like a rocky mountain range. But he had to get creative to pull off the illusion. Creating a structure with metal supports would cost too much, take too much time, and might have been too heavy for the bridge.

JR wanted to turn the bridge into a cave, and make the outside look like a rocky mountain range. He had to get creative to pull off the illusion, using air to puff up the fabric into something that looked like snow-covered mountains. Above, JR speaks to reporters on Monday, when his cave officially opened.

Instead, JR chose to use air to puff up the fabric, inflating the material into something that looked like snow-covered mountains. But the artwork faced some early trouble. On June 2, strong winds tore the fabric of the artwork. This caused the opening of the “cave” to be pushed back by over a week while workers fixed the damage.

But now it’s open, and visitors can freely walk through the cave 24 hours a day through June 28.

JR says the cave represents both the scary dark, and a cozy shelter. It’s an experience for the senses, with smells, sounds, and sights. Above, some of the first visitors walk through the inside of the cave on opening day.

JR says the art is meant to connect different times in history. The “rocks” represent the stone used to build Pont Neuf back in 1607. He also says the cave represents both the scary dark, and a cozy shelter.

JR grew up in Paris without much experience of caves. “But yet there is something that connects me, deep down in my roots,” he says. “The same way it connects all of us.”

Inside the cave is an experience for the senses. A perfume company called Odore Scola made a special scent meant to smell like an underground cavern. Thomas Bangalter, a musician from the group Daft Punk, created a special soundtrack for the cave, with echoing sounds and low rumbles.

For people wearing special glasses or looking through a smartphone app connected to the cave, there’s even more. Different images, including animals and people, will appear to flash on the walls of the cave.

Some have criticized the temporary new look of the bridge. But for others, the change is almost magical. “It feels like the city has disappeared,” one person told the AP. “You know the river is right outside, but for a moment you’re somewhere ancient.”

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Did You Know…?
While Christo often had to fight for years to get permission for his big art projects, JR found it much easier. These days, cities often welcome large art displays because they bring in tourists and get a lot of attention.