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.

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.

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