JR transformes the Pont Neuf into a monumental cave, paying tribute to Christo and Jeanne-Claude

This June sees the Pont Neuf transformed by a spectacular, immersive installation by JR. From 6 to 28 June, Paris’s oldest stone bridge becomes a monumental, temporary artwork. Entitled La Caverne du Pont Neuf, this creation pays homage to the iconic wrapping project by Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The Pont Neuf Wrapped, presented forty years ago.

Drawing inspiration from this artistic audacity and the monument’s history, JR draws on the quarries of Lutetian limestone, the stone used to build the bridge and many Parisian buildings. The Pont Neuf is thus transformed into a vast cave, where the roughness of the mineral, the power of the wild and the refinement of the capital come together.

Free to visit, the installation can be experienced both by crossing the bridge and by viewing it from the Seine or its banks. Visible day and night, it offers a unique and unmissable visual experience.

Located opposite the Pont-Neuf, La Samaritaine echoes this installation and has devised an artistic and cultural event in collaboration with JR. From 23 May to 28 June, the department store’s Concept Store will be transformed into the Caverne Souvenirs for the occasion.

The link between the department store and Paris’s oldest bridge dates back to La Samaritaine’s origins in 1870, with the store taking its name from a water pump located on the Pont-Neuf.

The Caverne Souvenirs offers a sensory journey through an immersive exhibition paying tribute to JR’s work, and a unique selection created especially for the occasion (lithographs from the artist’s collection or specially produced, original and exclusive creations, postcards as well as coffee-table books, T-shirts, scarves, fans, etc.).

A photo booth extends the experience, allowing visitors to take home a souvenir of their visit.

Book signings by JR will take place on Saturday 6 and Sunday 21 June, and a talk will be held on 13 June.