Incredible Illusion Art
The renowned French street artist JR has recently unveiled his most intricate illusion to date, set against the bustling backdrop of Milan’s Stazione Centrale railway station.
Titled “La Nascita” (The Birth), the artwork transforms the station’s adjacent square, Piazza Duca D’Aosta, into a dramatic Alpine landscape using black-and-white imagery to create a layered visual effect. The installation not only serves as a historical nod but also acts as a social catalyst in one of the city’s most frequented and crime-prone areas.
During a launch event, JR expressed to The Art Newspaper that his work is designed to foster unexpected social interactions in places burdened with societal challenges. “In a place like this, a huge range of people come to catch the train. When they find themselves in front of an exhibition, they will suddenly have a different kind of interaction.” JR explained.
This piece, coinciding with Milan Design Week and viewable until May 1, harkens back to the era of grand rail travel initiated in the early 20th century. King Vittorio Emmanuele III laid the stations foundational stone in 1906 following the completion of the trans-Alpine Simplon tunnel.
Commissioned by Stazione Centrale, JR’s work mirrors the rugged mountains carved out for the tunnel. Paper images are pasted onto vertical slats, creating a multi-layered effect with the station’s imposing architecture in the background. “It is the first time I do something like this with many layers,” he noted. “The building is pretty intimidating; it took me a while to work out how to engage with that station.”