Now you see it, now you don't: In Paris, the Louvre's 27-year-old modernist glass pyramid from I.M. Pei has been made to disappear—but not permanently. Instead, the optical illusion is part of French street artist and photographer JR's latest public installation. Unveiled May 25, the "trick" involved plastering the pyramid's nearly 700 glass segments with enlarged black-and-white photos of the portion of the Louvre Palace that is partially blocked by the pyramid, so that viewers can see the complete stretch of building when looking at it straight on. Given the building's sepia tones, the black-and-white portion looks like a snapshot taken in years long gone—or just given a different Instagram filter.
JR, who initially began as a graffiti artist, has since become famous for his large, black-and-white photographs pasted in public locations. For his latest project, he had the Louvre's blessing: In an interview on the museum's website, he described his motivations for the project, linking them largely to the controversy that surrounded Pei's implementation of the pyramid in 1989. "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," said JR, whose installations have been everywhere from the favelas of Brazil to the lights of Times Square. "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."
Should you wish to get a look at the artwork in person, the installation is on view through June 27. Flights are cheap, there's a nearby wine theme park for adults, and you may soon be able to swim in the Seine—so what are you waiting for?
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