JR transforms the Louvre pyramid into a wild optical illusion

JR is a magician of spatial proportions. The French artist, who has pasted a giant homage to immigrants on the side of rising Tribeca condos and turned the border wall into art, has one-upped himself with his most recent work of public art unveiled in Paris last weekend.

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Louvre Museum’s iconic glass pyramid, JR has once again turned the structure into even more of a work of art than it already is. With the help of 400 volunteers, JR pasted 2,000 sheets of paper to the ground around the I.M. Pei design, making it look like it’s rising from a giant quarry.

The striking optical illusion was as fleeting as it is powerful. After a single day, the paper began to disintegrate and crumple, and the courtyard returned to its former state.

“The images, like life, are ephemeral. Once pasted, the art piece lives on its own,” JR tweeted. “The sun dries the light glue and with every step, people tear pieces of the fragile paper. The process is all about participation of volunteers, visitors, and souvenir catchers.”