If you haven't heard about JR (the-somewhat-anonymous-artist/activist-global-plaster) who won the coveted TED Prize for 2011--well then pay attention, because the French street-artist-messenger, puts forth one of the most asked questions in the history of human expression: Can art change the world?
When TED called to inform him that he'd won the TED Prize Wish--telling him that to accept the prize, he needed to make a public wish to save the world, his thought: "I was lost. I can't save the world. Nobody can. The world is fucked up!"
And yet his winning global art projects (see HERE), has grabbed the very close attention of some of the most smartest and influential people in the world--despite the unconventional and perhaps even controversial involvements of the photographer. The TED community among others, are determined to support and fund his future activist endeavors--JR style of course.
Initially, JR told TED, "I won't show up [to accept the prize and make my save the world speech]." But he did show up--and what he has to say is a commentary on his vision for art's place in humanity. Have a watch at his acceptance speech (below, after the jump).
And speaking of his recent additional endeavors, check out insideoutproject.net. It's the bi-factor of his large-scale-bigger-than-you-and-me photography-installations; it's an interactive presentation featured on the world wide web--its concept: for you-to-see-me and for-me-to-see-you and then perhaps to follow up with, "Are we really that different?"
And speaking of his recent additional endeavors, check out insideoutproject.net. It's the bi-factor of his large-scale-bigger-than-you-and-me photography-installations; it's an interactive presentation featured on the world wide web--its concept: for you-to-see-me and for-me-to-see-you and then perhaps to follow up with, "Are we really that different?"
JR's TED Prize wish: Use art to turn the world inside out
