giant trompe l'oeil painting appears to break through paris highway

giant trompe l’oeil painting appears to break through paris highway
all images courtesy of galerie itinerrance

within paris’ 13th arrondissement, german artist 1010 has transformed a busy highway into an optical illusion. ‘le périphérique’ is a three-dimensional, trompe l’oeil artwork presented on the pavement, whose 400 liters of paint used give the illusion that a huge colorful crater is opening into the ground between passing traffic. the anonymous artist’s most recent urban intervention covers 4500 m2 of asphalt, spanning a huge surface of the popular motorway.

each of the colorful layers appear to unearth each other — light blue leads in to red, orange and purple, eventually leading into the dark ‘bottom’ of the crater. because of its optical effect, ‘le périphérique’ is best viewed from above, where the eye can understand the three-dimensional illusion taking place. the colorful opening revitalizes what was formerly a unkempt site, enlivening the urban setting for both passerby and viewers from afar. 1010’s work is presented by galerie itinerrance as a way of highlighting an unusual site, in a sector which will see its status gradually evolve through artistic and creative interventions.

each of the colorful layers appear to unearth each other

light blue leads in to red, orange and purple, eventually leading into the dark ‘bottom’ of the crater

400 liters of paint give the illusion that a huge colorful crater is opening into the ground

the intervention enlivens the highway through a sense of playful creativity

he colorful opening revitalizes what was formerly a unkempt site

1010’s work enlivens the urban setting for both passerby and viewers from afar

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