JR reimagines palais garnier's scaffolding as entrance of a cave

jr adds a geological dimension to palais garnier in paris

Alongside the buzzing energy coming out of Paris Design Week 2023, French artist JR reveals his latest show-stopping installation in the heart of the French capital. As part of the Palais Garnier’s renovation, the Opéra National de Paris invited the artist to transform the scaffolding of the historic landmark into the entrance of a vast cave, evoking a passage filled with rocks and light. Titled Retour à la caverne – Act I – L’entrée de la caverne, this project is an extension of JR’s trompe l’oeil projects, which have taken over iconic sites like the Louvre Museum, Trocadero Esplanade, Farnese Palace in Rome, and Florence’s Strozzi Palace. The installation is open to the public until September 25, 2023.

all images courtesy of JR via Instagram

Retour à la caverne – Act I – L’entrée de la caverne

Like an opera libretto, this anamorphosis of Palais Garnier — as JR (see more here) puts it — will take place in two monumental acts. The first one, Act I – L’entrée de la caverne, recalls the stage sets of epic operas by Berlioz or Wagner, combined with the aesthetics of 19th-century romanticism. ‘In Act I, Palais Garnier appears to be stuck between two times. At first glance, the building seems to be in ruins, a reflection of the fragility and eternity of Parisian monuments. But upon closer inspection, the piece can also be interpreted as a work of art in permanent construction. Alongside the century-old building and natural formations, contemporary scaffolding is present, a nod to the real and necessary work that physically supports this installation and monument,’ writes the artist.

Visitors walking up the Avenue de l’Opéra can journey back to the origins of song and dance in Ancient Greece. In the 6th century BC, Greek festivals honoring the gods were held in caves. As these festivals grew in popularity, they were moved to cities, and theaters were built. The geological formations that JR alludes to in his installation are reminiscent of these ancient caves, providing a unique opportunity to experience the birthplace of Western theater. Ultimately, the Palais Garnier installation is a call to reconnect with nature. Nodding to Plato’s allegory of the cave, it represents the opportunity to escape from the ‘shadows’ and experience reality in its truest form.

Retour à la caverne – Act I – L’entrée de la caverne

the program

For four nights this September, the cave will be brought to life through projections in the Place de l’Opéra. The screenings begin at 9:15 PM each evening and are open to all free of charge. They include: Saturday, September 9: Les Bosquets by JR, L’oiseau de feu by Maurice Béjart / Sunday, September 10: Boléro by Maurice Béjart, an excerpt from Les Contes d’Hoffmann by Jacques Offenbach, directed by Robert Carsen, Brise-lames by Damien Jalet / Saturday, September 16: an excerpt from Le Parc by Angelin Preljocaj, Die Grosse Fuge by Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker, an excerpt from La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi, directed by Simon Stone / Sunday, September 17: The Art Of Not Looking Back by Hofesh Shechter, an excerpt from Les Indes Galantes by Jean-Philippe Rameau, directed by Clément Cogitore.

alluding to a geological formation from Ancient Greece