PHOTOS: Mona Lisa Smiles on 240 square meters

Mona Lisa was created by 245 people who spent a total of 86 liters of paint. The project is designed to help terminally ill children.

Huge reproduction of Mona Lisa was made in Eagles Meadows shopping center in Wrexham. Gigantic version of Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece is spread over 240 square meters and it is considered the largest Mona Lisa reproduction in the World.

The project led by the artist, Katy Webster, was painted by 245 people who spent 987 hours and 86 liters of paint. While revealing the painting for the public, the artist said that Mona Lisa’s smile is as enigmatic as ever - in spite the fact that it was 50 times larger than the original.

- It took me about a week to make her her face. This was the hardest part of the project because everyone knows how she looks like and we had to try really hard to make her look as close to the original as possible. While our version is somewhat different because of the color we used, I think we managed to achieve an incredible likeness - said Webster to WalesOnline. Given that the Mona Lisa is set in the atrium of the shopping center, visitors will be able to enjoy the view from the balcony.

A masterpiece to help terminally ill children

- I'm happy that this work of is set at Eagles Meadows because this image will bring the inhabitants of Wrexham closer to the art. Especially since a large number of them participated in the creation of the Mona Lisa - said Webster, adding that it is very important to her that art is available in public places instead of being locked within galleries.

This project is also designed to raise money for Children's Hospice, ‘House of Hope’, which provides assistance to terminally ill children and their families.

Pieces of replica are for sale and they will be distributed in two years, after Mona Lisa gets dismantled. Shopping center manager, Kevin Critchley, who came up with the idea of making a huge replica of Da Vinci’s masterpiece, does not hide his enthusiasm.

- Our Mona Lisa has a tremendous advantage compared to the original because it is much larger and easier to watch. In addition, visitors will not have to pay to see the Eagles Meadows Mona Lisa at, as they would in Paris - said Critchley.

See the world’s largest Mona Lisa in our photo gallery.