In brief
The public opening scheduled for 6 June has been delayed to an unspecified date after the inflatable structure was damaged on Tuesday.
A severe wind gust ripped part of the printed canvas, exposing the internal inflatable framework. French media cite weather as the probable cause.
The work honours Christo and Jeanne-Claude, who wrapped the same bridge in fabric in 1985. Their nephew Vladimir Yavachev contributed to JR's project.
A press conference is planned for Thursday at 9:30 a.m. to update the public on the damage assessment and a new opening timeline.
The incident
The temporary installation by French artist JR, 'La Caverne du Pont Neuf', sustained damage on Tuesday afternoon when a strong gust of wind ripped part of the printed canvas, exposing the inflatable structure beneath. The work, a 120-metre-long, 20-metre-wide trompe-l'œil cave with a height varying between 12 and 18 metres, had been wrapped around the Pont Neuf, the oldest bridge in Paris. Organisers confirmed the opening, originally scheduled for 6 June, has been postponed to an unspecified later date.
“The project's technical experts are currently working to establish the exact circumstances that led to the incident. As soon as the assessment has been completed, we will communicate its findings.”
French media, including BFM and Le Parisien, reported that severe winds and a downpour that swept through Paris on Tuesday were the likely cause. A source close to the artist told BFM that such events are among the imponderables that can happen when installing an artwork outdoors. The Polish daily Le Parisien questioned whether the weather alone was to blame or whether the installation itself was too fragile.
The artwork
The monumental inflatable canvas structure creates a rocky appearance by blending white, black, and various shades of gray, mimicking the quarries from which the stones to build the bridge were originally extracted. JR, born in Paris in 1982 and known for his large-scale photographic installations in public spaces, described the cave theme as connecting to the history of humanity across all continents.
“There is a kind of unknown, of fear, in entering a cave and at the same time of fascination.”
The project is a tribute to Christo and Jeanne-Claude, who wrapped the Pont Neuf in over 40,000 square metres of fabric in 1985, drawing millions of visitors. Vladimir Yavachev, nephew and closest collaborator of Christo and Jeanne-Claude for 35 years, contributed to the project. The installation also features a sound element created by Thomas Bangalter, formerly of the electronic-music duo Daft Punk.
What's next
A press conference is scheduled for Thursday at 9:30 a.m. to provide an update on the situation. The installation was originally due to remain on view from 6 June through 28 June. How those dates will be affected remains unknown until the damage assessment is complete. Once unveiled, the work is designed to be viewed from multiple vantage points: walking or cycling along the banks of the Seine, from the high quays and nearby bridges, and from riverboat services and cruises on the river.
“The teams need your strength.”
The artist promised to communicate a new opening date quickly, emphasising the scale of work being undertaken by the experts gathered to address the damage.