JR transforms the Pont-Neuf into a giant immersive cave

Work began this Monday on the Pont Neuf in Paris. For several weeks, the capital's oldest bridge will gradually disappear beneath a spectacular installation conceived by the artist JR. Entitled "La Caverne du Pont Neuf" (The Cave of the Pont Neuf), the project pays homage to the monumental work created by Christo and Jeanne-Claude in 1985, when the famous duo wrapped the bridge over the Seine. This time, the French artist promises an immersive experience designed as a "journey into the unknown," according to his comments reported by Le Parisien.

A bridge transformed into a giant mineral fault

From June 6 to 28, the public can walk through this monumental artwork free of charge, accessible day and night. The installation will take the form of a vast rock grotto, 120 meters long and approximately 20 meters wide, where only the arches of the Pont-Neuf will still allow visitors to identify the Parisian landmark.

To allow for this transformation, traffic is now suspended on the bridge. JR explained to Le Parisien that he initially planned to keep the passage open, before realizing that technical constraints made this impossible. Visitors will enter from the Place du Pont-Neuf – Christo and Jeanne-Claude side, then exit facing La Samaritaine, after a crossing designed to disorient them completely.

The artist describes this experience as a plunge into a raw, mineral world evoking the subterranean origins of Paris. Inspired by the old quarries that supplied the capital's stone, this "cavern" plays on trompe-l'œil and optical illusions to transform a familiar place into an almost unreal landscape.

Thomas Bangalter and augmented reality at the heart of the project

The installation relies on an unprecedented technical feat. According to information released by the JR workshop and the Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation, the structure will be composed of 80 inflatable textile arches inflated by nearly 20,000 cubic meters of air. No massive scaffolding is planned: the hand-sewn elements will be held in place by an air suction and pressure system capable of reaching a height of 18 meters.

The project involves approximately 800 people and is funded entirely by private sources, including the sale of JR's artwork and several partners. The experience will also be enhanced by augmented reality features developed in collaboration with Snap's AR Studio Paris. QR codes will allow visitors to discover interactive animations and content on their smartphones or via Spectacles glasses.

On the sound side, JR called upon Thomas Bangalter, former member of Daft Punk. The artist conceived an immersive electro-acoustic creation designed as a “sound material” interacting with the volumes of the structure.

After its planned dismantling on June 28, the materials used could be reused, recycled, or incorporated into other artistic creations. With this ephemeral work, JR intends less to cover Paris than to reveal a different interpretation of the city, somewhere between historical heritage and an imaginary world.