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JR (b.1983) is the pseudonym of a French photographer and artist whose identity is unconfirmed. Describing himself as a photograffeur, he flyposts large b&w photographic images in public locations, in a manner similar to the graffiti artist. He states that the street is "the largest art gallery in the world". He started out on the streets of Paris. JR's work "often challenges widely held preconceptions and the reductive images propagated by advertising and the media."
JR's work combines art & action, and deals with commitment, freedom, identity and limits. He has been introduced by Fabrice Bousteau as: "the one we already call the Cartier-Bresson of the 21st century". On 20 October 2010, JR won the TED Prize for 2011. He used the $100,000 award money to start the Inside Out Project.
Creating large-scale public photography projects in cities around the world that address local political conflicts, the French artist JR has in recent years become one of the most visible contemporary artists on the international stage. Ironically, he is also one of the most private, identifying himself only by his initials and always wearing dark sunglasses and a fedora in public. Evading easy categorization, JR’s socially minded experiments in photography, filmmaking, and relational aesthetics have led his fellow street artist Shepard Fairey to call him “the most ambitious person I know.”
Activity:
1. Begin by reading JR’s Bio and answering the questions below in your DP Docs Notebook.
2. Watch the TED Talk My Wish to Turn the World Inside Out. Take notes while watching.
3. Write a thorough response in your note book that will be used for a class discussion.
About JR (bio) questions
How did JR get his start and what was his first major project?
Who’s attention does JR prefer to catch and what topics does his work explore?
What is his most common method for creating street art?
Choose two of his pieces in the Wide Walls article to discuss. Describe the image and what makes it powerful for you.
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