How often do we see something and just don’t get it? I discovered that about myself yet again today as I read Julie’s post on Eyes of the World on Paris.
Some time ago I’d seen this image and loved the scale and interesting placement but either didn’t take the time to read more or maybe where I saw it didn’t tell more. I really can’t remember.
As soon as I started reading Julie’s post this image immediately resurfaced in my mind and I realized how much more there was to this than just a large scale photograph cleverly positioned on a staircase.
What I discovered was that a French photographer known as JR captures photographs of woman from some of the poorest and most war torn areas of Africa, South America and Asia then enlarges these images and illegally puts them on buildings, trains and bridges in the very neighborhoods where the woman live. As I explored JR’s website I found this picture of the woman whose portrait was illegally plaster on the staircase near her home.
With an incredible eye and soulful sensitivity JR pays honors the strength and hope of woman in a series of photographs ‘Woman Are Heros’. Seeing a series of these photographs rather than just a single image was incredibly moving but when I began to understand the context of the photographs and the JR’s statements about his public art he touched my heart and soul.
So now not only do I get it but I feel a responsibility to woman everywhere to live each day with the same strength, hope and courage of the woman in JR’s photographs.
Read about Woman Are Heros on LIve in Full Color…
