The Modern Starving Artist: Profile: JR

Can art change the world?

Street artist JR responded, during his TED Prize wish talk, “Art is not supposed to change the world, to change the practical things, but to change the perceptions. Art can change the way we see the world, art can create energy. Actually the fact that art cannot change things makes it a neutral place for exchanges and discussions, and then enables it to change the world.”

JR, semi-anonymous French photographer and artist, identifies himself as an “urban activist” in creating pervasive art. Drawing from graffiti art, JR envisions art to be an effective method of communicating messages to the public, defying the notion that art should be self-contained, autonomous and separated from its social and economic context. JR strives to expose humanity in the midst of conflict concerning freedom, identity, commitment, and limits.

From the suburbs of Paris to the rooftop of Kenya, JR has been exhibiting massive mono-photographic installations featuring people’s portraits in countries across the globe. Because the posters are black-and-white, there is emphasis on facial features and expressions of individuals, defined through contour and silhouette. By wheatpasting mural-sized posters on walls, rooftops, sides of buildings, bridges, and trains, JR invites the public to engage in intimate dialogue with the artwork. Through incorporating photography with graffiti art, JR creates a visual display of humanity, stripped to its most fundamental and raw form, at the face of conflict. JR’s works acknowledge the existence of those whose lives tell empowering and transformative stories, consequently challenging the perspectives of people toward specific global conflicts. JR’s works consist of international participatory projects, requiring joint effort from other artists, photographers, and willing participants—collaboration is essential. JR highlights the purpose of art as a potent means of communication—an interaction between the subject and the viewer. In JR’s works, art collaborates with the environment regarding medium and content—social issues predominant in society.

Several of JR’s projects under the “28 Millimeters” series aim to unite humanity for peacebuilding. For example, “Face2Face (2007)” addresses the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by noting the commonalities between Israelis and Palestinians. Portraits of Palestinians and Israelis with same jobs are pasted face to face on all sides of Security fence/Separation wall as well as in eight Israeli and Palestinian cities. On JR’s online website, it is written, “We are in favor of a solution in which two countries, Israel and Palestine would live peacefully within safe and internationally recognized borders.” According to JR, in the process of gluing the posters, he was often questioned by people nearby, “What are you doing?” JR answered, “One of them is a taxi driver in Palestine and the other is a taxi driver in Israel, could you guess who is who?” They could not answer.

"Holy Tryptich"

Separation Wall Security Fence Israeli Side in Abu Dis, Jerusalem

“Women are Heroes (2008-2010)” is also a world-scale project by JR, as it is initiated in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Sudan, Kenya, Brazil, India, and Cambodia. According to the website, the project pays tribute to female “victims of war, crime, rape and political or religious fanaticism,” furthermore highlighting human presence in the midst of social conflict.

Morro da Providência in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Swimming pool at Intercontinental Hotel in Horizontale, Monrovia, Liberia

General view of Kibera Slum, Kenya

“Wrinkles of the City (since 2008)” is a current project, launched in Cartagena, Shanghai, Los Angeles, La Havana, and Berlin. Here, JR exhibits architectural and human “wrinkles.”