STONE me – this floating rock really is a sight for shore eyes.
Sailors marveled as the jagged craft, which perfectly blends with the cliffs, cruised past Marseille in France.
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The wacky camouflaged boat is the creation of artist Julien Berthier, 46.
He converted an old dinghy using mostly epoxy resin and polystyrene. It took him six months.
It looks like a drifting natural rock formation, thanks to the meticulously applied paint job.
The boat, aptly called L’invisible by Julien, effortlessly pulls away into the Mediterranean Sea in this mind-bending video.
Julien stated that the boat is more like a cave within it.
Although it can accommodate quite a lot of people, it feels a bit cramped.
“The boat’s center of gravity has changed since it was built so it can sometimes be a little unstable. You feel the waves more when the water is choppy.
“There are two entrances in the rock, one to get in the top and another at the back so you can start the engine.”
Covid restrictions meant that the craft could not be launched before this summer, although it was part of an art project.
Julien, a Parisian, said: “I wanted something that did not intrude on the landscape.”
“As an artist, these days it’s all about being loud to make yourself stand out on Instagram and social media.
“With this in mind, I decided to go completely the opposite direction and blend in with the Marseille creeks.
“When the boat is close to the rocks, it becomes camouflaged and almost invisible before it moves on.
It is survivalist in nature. I wanted it to be in harmony with nature as much possible.
“We make fake islands to claim territory from water. I wanted to add another element to that.
“The boat’s movement changes the landscape constantly.
“You can be looking at the rocks one second and when you turn back a moment later they have changed in a subtle manner.”
Julien constructed the rocky boat during a residency organized by Thomas Mailaender, a fellow artist, for TUBA Club hotels.
We told you in May how a huge container ship seemed to hover above the Kent sea due to an optical illusion.
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