Many of JR’s art installations are similar in nature: outdoors, large in scale, and centered around photographic prints. In a press release, the artist explained his motivation for pairing photos with landmarks all around the world, ranging from the Middle East to the favelas of Rio to slums of Kenya. “The most important thing,” wrote JR, “is where I put my photos and the meaning they take on depending on the place.”
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For a full 24 hours (May 28 3:00 p.m. to May 29 3:00 p.m.), JR and other artists occupied the Louvre. The agenda included a series of talks, films, and concerts, including a film with Agnès Varda in northern France and a performance with dancers from the New York City Ballet. The celebration also included five brief after-hours museum tours, led by JR and magician Yann Frisch, topping the momentous day with an extra dose of whimsy.
JR documented the progress of the exhibit via his Instagram page. There, he shows crews in action, working carefully to hang the enormous photographic print with the aid of a giant crane. The exhibition will be open through June 27.
Images via JR
