The earth opens up beneath the Eiffel Tower in JR’s new installation

26 May 2021: JR’s latest visual illusion has appeared in Paris, and it’s turning the base of the Eiffel Tower into a yawning chasm.

The piece is the latest in a long line of installations by the French street artist, many of which have used clever angles to distort reality. Having created trompe-l’oeil artworks for cities including New York and Florence, JR has now tackled what is, arguably, the biggest icon in Paris.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by JR (@jr)

The riveted metal legs of the Eiffel Tower are transformed into a rocky canyon, with the monument perched precariously on top. Beneath, and stretching into the distance, lies a busy city scene.

The artwork is located in Paris’s Trocadero square and will remain in place for the next four weeks.