Giant optical illusion appeared in the center of Florence

This is a "gap" in the wall of a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture.

On the walls of the Palazzo Strozzi in Florence, a giant installation by the street artist JR has appeared, which "makes the outer wall of the palace disappear" and shows its interior.

The three-dimensional illusion shows columns, steps, paintings, statues, and a large library. The JR drawing is a black-and-white photo collage almost 28 meters high. It is called "Rana" ("La Ferita"). This is a "reflection" on the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly complicated access to art and culture.

JR began his career as a street artist at the age of 13 in France. His work has appeared in a wide variety of places-from train cars to the Louvre. JR became well-recognized thanks to the giant installations in Rio de Janeiro during the 2016 Olympic Games.

Florence's Renaissance palace was built by order of the merchant and banker Filippo Strozzi the elder in 1489-1539. To make room for it, 15 buildings were destroyed. The Palazzo is considered a masterpiece of civil architecture of the Florentine Renaissance. At present, there are four important institutes associated with research in the field of literature and art.