French street artist JR, nicknamed the “French Banksy,” begins installing a large inflatable “cave” over Pont Neuf, the oldest bridge in Paris. Multiple outlets report that the bridge appears to vanish overnight as the artwork inflates into a mountain-like cavern covering the structure. The work is titled “La Caverne du Pont Neuf” and is presented as a tribute to the Parisian artist Christo and his wife, Jeanne-Claude.
Coverage describes the installation as a temporary public artwork that draws attention from tourists and residents. BBC and other reports note that timelapse footage shows the inflatable cave filling in over time. France 24 reports the artwork is scheduled to be fully open to the public starting June 6, and that it will remain accessible for a limited period (three weeks), with visitors able to experience a soundtrack linked to the project. RFI similarly frames the transformation as a spectacle of an Alpine-style cave over the historic bridge. Overall, reporting agrees on the artist, the location, the inflatable cave concept, and the planned public opening date.
