Artist JR confounds Paris tourists by camouflaging Louvre pyramid

Record ID: 102083

  • Title: Artist JR confounds Paris tourists by camouflaging Louvre pyramid
  • Date: 25th May 2016
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (MAY 25, 2016) (REUTERS) IMAGE OF FACADE OF LOUVRE MUSEUM PASTED ONTO PYRAMID ENTRANCE TO LOUVRE VISITORS GOING INSIDE PYRAMID DOTS WHICH MAKE UP IMAGE IMAGE OF FACADE OF LOUVRE SHOWN WITH REAL FACADE IN BACKGROUND VARIOUS OF GLASS OF PYRAMID ON UNDECORATED SIDE (SOUNDBITE) (French) ARTIST, JR, SAYING: "It was the only way to really make it disappear, by playing with the architecture, from one point of view making it completely disappear from view like a magician but then also making it look different from other points of view. So people are taking photos as we're talking to each other and depending on where they stand they have a totally different photo." SMALLER GLASS PYRAMID VISITORS VARIOUS OF PYRAMID MAN TAKING PHOTO (SOUNDBITE) (French) ARTIST, JR, SAYING: "People are constantly passing through this place, both Parisians and people from round the world, so photos are already taken of it all the time and I wanted to play with the architecture, to play with architecture, to play with the landmark, to interact with people because the constant link in my work is that interaction with people." VARIOUS OF PYRAMID
  • Embargoed: 9th June 2016 17:10
  • Keywords: Louvre art pyramid entrance JR Paris
  • Location: PARIS, FRANCE
  • City: PARIS, FRANCE
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Art,Arts/Culture/Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA0014JB555L
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:French artist JR made the Louvre's pyramid disappear from the Paris tourist trail on Wednesday (May 25), hiding the famous entrance behind a huge image of the museum's facade.
    The work camouflages the 1980s pyramid -- a once-controversial addition to the historic palace -- behind a huge black and white pointillist picture of the buildings surrounding it.
    "It was the only way to really make it disappear, by playing with the architecture, from one point of view making it completely disappear from view like a magician but then also making it look different from other points of view. So people are taking photos as we're talking to each other and depending on where they stand they have a totally different photo," the artist told Reuters TV.
    JR's work has been exhibited from the Middle East to Brazil, from Kenya to Shanghai.
    "JR at the Louvre" will remain in place until June 27.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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