JR splits the earth beneath the eiffel tower to form epic, urban-scale artwork in paris

the earth beneath the eiffel tower has split in two to reveal a cavernous subterranean city below — or at least that’s what french artist JR’s latest public art intervention might have you believe…

the french capital has been treated to a monumental installation by the prolific artist, who is widely known for his epic, urban-scale artworks that optically distort reality — from a recent peek inside florence’s palazzo strozzi, opening it up to reveal an interior at once real and imaginary, to the transformation of the musée du louvre, making the pyramid seemingly submerge in a quarry of white rock. now on his instagram, JR shares images of his latest illusion-inducing collage located at esplanade des droits de l’homme, overlooking the eiffel tower.

image via JR

JR has devised the installation to perfectly align with the architecture of the eiffel tower when viewed from a specific vantage point. from here, the tower’s legs appear to transform into a natural rock formation, from which emerges an enormous, cavernous void. the collaged canyon opens out into the plaza and obscures the ground, revealing a city street deep below the rocky walls. visitors to the public place are invited to step out into the abyss and photograph themselves in the optically warped surroundings. see more art, exhibitions, and installations by JR on designboom here.

image via JR

image via JR

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by JR (@jr)