Milan’s Central Station is busy throughout the year, but this past week, it saw an influx of local and international visitors who descended on the capital of Lombardy for Salone del Mobile and those traveling to the nearby Venice Biennale. On view at the entrance of the station is a massive multi-paneled display by elusive French artist JR, who created a trompe l’oeil effect of a cavernous terrain that forks directly through the Ulisse Stacchini=designed building.
In collaboration with Avant Arte, who recently worked with Javier Calleja and George Condo, the London-based studio will release a new print based off of JR’s Milanese artwork. Aptly titled to reflect the installation, La Nascita (The Birth) blurs the boundaries of time and space, honoring the legacy of Milan’s historic train station that made the Northern Italian city one of the central regions for transport and commerce over a century ago.
As one of his largest projects to date, JR lauded the chance to reframe one of Italy’s most prominent modern buildings. “Changing perspectives on things is always a way of looking at the world differently, and that’s what I always aim to do, no matter the circumstances,” the artist said in a statement. The installation is currently on view until May 1, 2024, while the limited-edition print will see an online release on April 30. Details of the image and specifications of the print have not been revealed to the public yet, but for collectors out there, register for early updates to get first glimpses at your chance to purchase.
