JR at the Louvre from May 26th to June 27th

JR at the Louvre from May 26th to June 27th

 

For about ten years now, JR has showcased his art with monumental photographic collags in all four corners of the globe on the walls of cities. For him, “The most important thing is where I put my photos and the meaning they take on depending on the place”.  He has worked in the Middle East, the favelas of Rio, the slums of Kenya, New York, Le Havre, Shanghai…

His new work will be on for about one month in Paris on the Louvre’s pyramid, I.M Pei’s glass museum entrance.  Built in 1989, the pyramid’s design provoked international controversy and accusations, and was viewed as an unwelcome intrusion of harsh modernism into the sacred precincts of Paris.

Six people spent several days carefully placing large photos over the pyramid’s 700-odd glass segments, using a crane to ensure the mirage is complete. By covering the pyramid with pictures of the buildings behind each side,  the pyramid disappears.

 

 

The exhibition organisers say JR’s “spectacular mode of intervention poses questions about artistic creation, the role of images in the age of globalisation”.

The artist will host a 24-hour takeover of the museum, starting at 3 p.m. on May 28th. Events include screenings, workshops, magic shows and a concert by Nils Frahm and Ólafur Arnalds.

Photos taken from JR’s official website http://www.jr-art.net