The famous Musée du Louvre has been transformed courtesy of French street artist and muralist, JR.
His latest work has taken over the forecourt of the Louvre, seemingly dematerialising IM Pei’s glass entrance canopy, a permanent symbol since its unveiling in 1989.
The beloved landmark has been cleverly disguised using large photographic pieces that wrap around the entire facade. The technique itself creates an incredible illusion – the pyramid, once viewed from the correct angle, dissolves into nothing but a black and white view of the louvre itself.
JR is known for his large-scale public art installations that have made their way onto walls of cities around the world.
The installation is part of a 24 hour event where JR will teach a masterclass, give talks on the art of creating in public spaces and present a film. The artist will also be hosting a guided gallery tour after hours.
“Making the Pyramid disappear is a way for me to distance myself from my subject. The feud between traditional and modern tastes in art and architecture is nothing new. The Pyramid, Buren’s columns at the Palais-Royal, and the Pompidou Center—all of these caused controversy. My work is about transmitting history to better understand the present, and find echoes with our own times. What happened in the past is part of a broader context that can still have relevance for today,” the artist revealed in an interview with Hugo Vitrani.
“By erasing the Louvre Pyramid, I am highlighting the way Pei made the Louvre relevant for his time, while bringing the Louvre back to its original state. The Pyramid is one of the most photographed French monuments. I am re-directing its energy, because people are going to have to move around it. They are going to look for the best angle to get the full impact of the anamorphic image, and really make the Pyramid disappear.”
For more information or to get the full event listing, go to Louvre website here.
