Tuesday, November 6, 2012 - 18:54
JR owns the biggest art gallery in the world. The world truly is his oyster as he exhibits freely all over the streets of it, catching the eye of street-wanderers and grabbing the attention of not just the usual exhibition-goers. His artwork reflects 'Art and Act', a personal showing of commitment, freedom, identity and limitations in life.
JR found a camera in the Paris subway, following this he completed a tour of European Street Art, discovering the artists who communicated messages and signs visually through the subway walls. From this experience, he was given the inspiration to focus his work on the vertical limits, acting as an onlooker; watching people from dark and forbidden passages and undergrounds and over the rooftops of the beautiful and charismatic city.
During 2006, the creatively driven artist achieved ' Portrait of a Generation', an illegal project, which comprised of a collection of portraits of the 'suburban thugs' which he posted in enormous formats in across the bourgeois districts of Paris, it was instantly "official" after the Paris City Hall littered its building walls with JR photography. This was just the start of the artists illegal exhibitions. In 2007, JR joined forces with artist Marco creating "Face 2 Face" -the biggest illegal exhibition. It featured huge portraits of Israelis and Palestinians face to face amongst eight cities on either side of security fences, experts never thought it be possible - JR proved them wrong. In 2008 he embarked on a international trip for 'Women Are Heroes', underlining the dignity of women who are often the targets of conflicts, the film in which was presented at Cannes in competition for the Camera d'Or. In 2011, JR received the Ted prize, which gave him the opportunity to 'make a wish to change the world.' He created 'Inside Out' an international participatory project, encouraging people worldwide to paste a photo they've created to support an idea, action or to share a memorable experience. It's safe to say that JR is an extraordinary artist, pushing arts limits. He creates "Pervasive Art" painted, uninvitedly on void buildings, slums and broken bridges in Africa and Brazil. He breaks the boundaries that others wouldn't dare touch, bringing the secrets of the world to light.
You can see JR's work on: www.jr-art.net/jr
Words by Olivia Todd
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