He is known as the French Banksy. Now artist JR plans to turn a Paris bridge into a massive cave

French Artist JR to Transform Paris’ Iconic Pont Neuf into Immersive Cave Installation

The iconic Pont Neuf bridge in central Paris will undergo a dramatic transformation this June as renowned French artist JR prepares to create what he describes as possibly the “largest immersive installation ever made.”

Known for his large-scale public art projects, JR plans to convert the 17th-century stone bridge into a walk-through “cave” – a monumental artwork that will envelop the bridge’s arches with a rocky façade and invite visitors to cross the River Seine through a tunnel enhanced with sound and augmented reality elements.

“We’re about to leave something pretty incredible in the middle of Paris,” JR told The Associated Press during an interview at his studio in eastern Paris, wearing his signature hat and sunglasses. The installation, titled Pont Neuf Cavern, will run from June 6-28, spanning 120 meters in length and standing over 17 meters high.

The project pays homage to the legendary artistic duo Christo and Jeanne-Claude, who in 1985 wrapped the same bridge in pale golden fabric – a groundbreaking installation that helped define contemporary public art. For JR, this tribute carries both aesthetic and personal significance.

“I had the chance to meet Christo along the years,” he said. “We had big respect for each other’s work.” Still, he acknowledges the challenge of following in their footsteps: “It’s pretty hard to go after them, but I’m doing it in a very different style, in my own way.”

JR’s concept centers on “bringing back mineral and nature” to Paris’s urban core. From the exterior, the installation will make Pont Neuf appear “as if it has been overtaken by a prehistoric outcrop,” creating a dramatic visual disruption visible from along the Seine’s banks.

The experience is designed to engage visitors in two distinct ways. From outside, pedestrians will spot the massive rock-like structure from hundreds of meters away. Inside, visitors entering the “cave” will walk through a tunnel-like environment designed for “total immersion,” with no natural light penetrating the space.

“Once inside, visitors will lose track of time,” JR explained.

The artist has assembled notable collaborators for the project. Thomas Bangalter, formerly of electronic music duo Daft Punk, is creating a soundscape exclusively for the installation’s interior. Meanwhile, Snap’s AR studio in Paris is developing augmented reality elements that will allow smartphone users to “experience and see things that you can’t see with your eyes,” though JR remains deliberately mysterious about these specific features.

Safety and security considerations have been paramount in the planning process. JR’s team conducted extensive engineering studies, including tests at Paris’s Orly airport to understand the structure’s behavior under various conditions, particularly during potential power outages affecting the cave’s air supply. The team is also consulting with authorities about limiting visitor numbers, and the installation will be continuously monitored throughout its three-week run.

Often compared to British street artist Banksy for his origins in graffiti and his large-scale public works, JR is best known for enormous portrait photographs pasted on buildings, border walls, and rooftops worldwide. While the Pont Neuf installation marks a departure from his characteristic faces, JR insists the human theme remains central – exploring gathering, connection, and shared experience.

The project also carries philosophical undertones, alluding to Plato’s allegory of the cave, which depicts humans interpreting shadows as reality while remaining ignorant of the actual world. JR draws a parallel to contemporary digital life: “What are our caves today is our phone, because we believe that our algorithm on social media is the reality.”

The Pont Neuf installation coincides with Paris Fashion Week and World Music Day in June, a particularly vibrant period in the French capital. During the installation, the historic bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic, allowing pedestrians full access to this temporary transformation of one of Paris’s most recognizable landmarks.

As Paris prepares for the Summer Olympics later in the season, JR’s ambitious project represents the city’s continuing tradition of blending historic architecture with cutting-edge contemporary art.