In-Your-Face Photographic Installation gains notoriety, and then respect

This year in Paris, an anonymous photographer known as JR has been posting his images on public buildings without permission. His images are contorted grotesques of urban youths that have, like many of his previous exhibitions, caused a gret eal of controversy. In the context of recent events, however, JR’s latest shocker has garnered unexpected support from city officials. AP’s Angela Doland has more:

Almost exactly a year ago, when riots broke out in France's troubled suburban housing projects, the world's media broadcast countless photos of hooded youths setting fire to cars. French photographer JR, who goes by his initials only, thought about those images and the stereotypes they reinforced, and how he could use photography to bring a different message.

“After the riots, Parisians viewed suburban kids as extraterrestrials,” said JR in an interview in his Paris studio. “On television, you always saw them wearing masks. People said, ‘those kids are all the same, everybody who comes from those areas took part in the riots.’ Everybody was afraid of them.”

The images indeed make these young people look frightening, their features altered to emphasize violent and confrontational attitudes, like those seen in a psychedelic music video. The images have been exhibited at Paris' European House of Photography, and have even helped inspire a new exhibit at Clichy-sous-Bois featuring twelve well-known photographers.

The exhibit, Clichy Sans Cliche (Clichy without Cliches) has a website here. Unfortunately, it’s in French. You can view JR’s website, English version included, here.