Indeed, JR never fails to amaze us. After installing optical illusions on various walls in Paris and at the Opéra Garnier, the artist now showcases his talent inside the legendary Belmond, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. Known for its prestigious Art Deco interior, the train captivates travelers from all over the world, especially avid cinema and literature enthusiasts. From France to Italy, through the UK, the Netherlands, and even Austria, it travels across the entirety of Europe, offering clients a unique travel experience where luxury and comfort blend seamlessly. More than just a decorative project, JR has successfully created a true mobile work of art, titled L'Observatoire, in car 3553.
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A travel experience blending luxury and mysteries
Usually, the 17 carriages are divided into several cabins, but carriage 3553 is privatized, allowing the person who reserves it to have all the space to themselves.she during the journey. To conceive this subtle decor, the inspirations were multiple: her childhood of course, but also her connection with the trains that accompanied her throughout her life, astronomical observatories, and even the cabinets of curiosities from the Renaissance.
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©Ludovic Balay
Curiosity has indeed been one of the driving forces behind this creation. In this car, discoveries unfold one after another. While the bedroom, living room, and bathroom are the main spaces, hidden rooms reveal themselves as you explore. For example, the library unveils a secret curved tea salon with an opening to the sky. Each book present has been carefully selected by the artist. Behind a curtain, you can also find a daybed next to a large window, allowing you to observe the passing landscape during the journey.
A car where craftsmanship serves elegance
Merging woodwork, wallpaper, and...Green leather in the room, Carrara marble in the bathroom, all wrapped up in a delicate warm light, JR has highlighted elegance and the quality of materials. The result of three years of work, L’Observatoire required the expertise of several hundred artisans such as Atelier Philippe Allemand and Michael Mayer.
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A way to perpetuate excellence that has always influenced the life of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express: « The carriages have traversed countless decades and eras, so I wanted to find a new way to approach them, while keeping the connection to this deep history. Working with artisans, choosing woods and materials, discovering patterns was not a constraint, as I am interested in making this a timeless work of art, as if I were an artist of the 1920s », says JR. To enjoy this unique and memorable travel experience aboard L'Observatoire, reservations are now open, and the carriage will join the train in March 2025.