JR creates an immersive optical illusion at Milan's bustling train station during Design Week
Experience the latest public art installation by renowned street artist JR, unveiled just in time for Milan Design Week. Discover the mesmerizing optical illusion that transforms Milan's central railway station into a work of art.
The French street artist JR has revealed his latest Italian trompe l’oeil masterpiece in Milan. Titled La Nascita (The Birth), the artwork transforms a square outside Milan’s Stazione Centrale railway station into a massive temporary exhibition space. The piece features intricate black-and-white images that create the illusion of a rugged Alpine landscape. This project, which blends history and social commentary, seeks to redefine the station as a place for unexpected meetings, challenging its reputation as a hub for minor crimes.
"In spaces with social issues, JR aims to unite people," he shared with The Art Newspaper at a launch event held in Piazza Duca D'Aosta, a large square near the station's towering 50m facade. "This location attracts a diverse crowd waiting to board the train. By encountering an exhibition here, they experience a unique form of interaction."
JR had been mulling over an installation in the square for some time. “Even before Covid I was thinking of doing something here, but my first idea was to do something on the floor, so I was scouting from up there,” he said, pointing at a grand hotel overlooking the square. “I never found the right idea, and eventually forgot about it.”
JR had been thinking about setting up an installation in the square for a while. Even before Covid, he had ideas about it. Initially, he wanted to do something on the ground, so he was looking around from a high vantage point, like a grand hotel overlooking the square. However, he couldn't find the right idea and eventually gave up on it.
The installation, coinciding with Milan Design Week and running until May 1, pays homage to the historic era of rail travel in northern Italy. Before Mussolini transformed the station into a symbol of Fascist power in the 1930s, King Vittorio Emmanuele III laid its foundation stone in 1906, marking Milan as a key transport hub after the completion of the trans-Alpine Simplon tunnel connecting Italy and France.
Created by Stazione Centrale, the artwork represents the mountains from which the tunnel was excavated. Paper images are carefully placed on vertical slats, forming a layered composition that reveals the station in the background. Similar to JR's past installations at Palazzo Strozzi in Florence and Palazzo Farnese in Rome in 2021, the piece creates the illusion of a tunnel-like void cutting through the majestic building.
Courtesy MO4 Network/Art D'Égypte
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JR has taken a different approach in Milan compared to his projects in Florence and Rome. In Milan, he has aimed to create a sense of depth instead of using flat images on the buildings. According to the artist, this is the first time he has worked with many layers, making the process a challenging one. Despite the size of the building being intimidating, JR expressed his excitement about the project, stating that it took him some time to figure out how to navigate through the station.
JR's goal with this installation in Milan is to showcase the area in a new and unique light.
JR explained that even though the exhibition is temporary, visitors will never view the station in the same way once it's gone. He emphasized that changing perspectives can lead to seeing the world differently, which is always his goal regardless of the situation.
Editor's P/S:
JR's latest trompe l'oeil masterpiece in Milan is a breathtaking spectacle that transforms the city's Stazione Centrale into an immersive art exhibition. The intricate black-and-white images create the illusion of a rugged Alpine landscape, inviting viewers to question the boundaries between reality and illusion. This project not only redefines the station's reputation but also serves as a poignant reminder of the historic significance of rail travel in Italy.
JR's artistic vision goes beyond creating visual illusions. He aims to provoke thought, challenge societal norms, and foster a sense of unity. By placing his artwork in a public space like the Stazione Centrale, he invites people from all walks of life to engage with art and explore its transformative power. This installation is a testament to JR's commitment to using his art as a catalyst for social change and creating a more inclusive and imaginative world.
