JR wraps Paris's Pont Neuf in artistic tribute

Enigmatic French artist JR plans to embark on his most significant undertaking next year, "wrapping" the historic Pont Neuf bridge in Paris with fabric. This monumental art project, scheduled for three weeks next June, is titled "Pont Neuf Cavern" and is conceived as a tribute to the influential environmental artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude. JR described the endeavor as his most challenging, aiming to create a "real cave" within the bridge, promising a visually disruptive and awe-inspiring experience for the city.

The inspiration for "Pont Neuf Cavern" stems from Christo and Jeanne-Claude's 1985 wrapping of the same bridge. JR, who was only two years old at the time, discovered their work later and felt a deep connection to their impactful artistic legacy. The Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation, through Christo's nephew Vladimir Yavachev, approached JR for the project, granting him artistic freedom. Unlike Christo's initial struggles for permissions, the current Parisian authorities, including Mayor Anne Hidalgo, President Emmanuel Macron, and the police chief, readily approved the project.

This ambitious installation will be open to the public from June 6 to June 28 next year, with the bridge remaining accessible. The project's technical complexities are being managed by dozens of engineers and hundreds of workers, emphasizing transparency in the public art process. Funded by private sources, the cost is deemed secondary, echoing Jeanne-Claude's philosophy of "it will cost what it has to cost," as JR prepares to leave his mark on Paris.