French street artist JR unveiled a large-scale trompe l’oeil installation in Rome that turns a building inside-out, showing its interiors via a monochrome mural on the facade.
Located in central Rome, the Palazzo Farnese has been leased by the French government since 1936 and houses the Embassy of France. The building is undergoing a four-year restoration at the cost of €5.6 million, thus scaffolding has been installed around the perimeter, which is what JR’s mural covers up.
Titled Punto di Fuga (vanishing point), the work gives viewers a "peek" into the halls of the palace, which is filled with columns and arches adorned with classical figures. Measuring 6,500 square feet, the mural looks as though a piece of the facade has been ripped off to reveal the interior.
The artist told Agence France-Presse: “The palace is not open to everyone … there are rooms and areas that can’t be seen. This is one way of opening up the building. It reveals [original] frescoes and arches that no longer exist.”
JR’s work is part of a larger project by the French embassy, which launched a contemporary art programme for the restoration. During the course of the project, artists will explore the building’s history with site-specific creations.
As part of the initiative, another French artist, Olivier Grossetete, showcased a sculptural work last month in the form of an 18-metre cardboard bridge held up by white balloons and seemingly floating over the River Tiber.
Punto di Fuga is only one of JR’s many public projects. In June, he revealed on social media that he is working on an installation at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. Commissioned by Art D’Egypte, the work is expected to be finished by October, and will be part of a major exhibition, Forever is Now, at the site of the Pyramids.
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
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No more lice
Defining head lice
Pediculus humanus capitis are tiny wingless insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. The adult head louse is up to 3mm long, has six legs, and is tan to greyish-white in colour. The female lives up to four weeks and, once mature, can lay up to 10 eggs per day. These tiny nits firmly attach to the base of the hair shaft, get incubated by body heat and hatch in eight days or so.
Identifying lice
Lice can be identified by itching or a tickling sensation of something moving within the hair. One can confirm that a person has lice by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits, nymphs or lice. Head lice are most frequently located behind the ears and near the neckline.
Treating lice at home
Head lice must be treated as soon as they are spotted. Start by checking everyone in the family for them, then follow these steps. Remove and wash all clothing and bedding with hot water. Apply medicine according to the label instructions. If some live lice are still found eight to 12 hours after treatment, but are moving more slowly than before, do not re-treat. Comb dead and remaining live lice out of the hair using a fine-toothed comb.
After the initial treatment, check for, comb and remove nits and lice from hair every two to three days. Soak combs and brushes in hot water for 10 minutes.Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay.
Courtesy Dr Vishal Rajmal Mehta, specialist paediatrics, RAK Hospital
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