Prepared to be blown away: Women are Heroes is an incredible project from Parisian street artist/activist/photographer JR, that uses the simplest idea to empower women affected by war and poverty, by encouraging positivity and making their stories inescapably visible - worldwide....
Above: Women are Heroes - Phnom Penh - 2009
JR started his career touring Europe to create and document street art in 2001 and 2002, posting his first large format pieces in 2003, and releasing his debut book Carnet de rue par JR in 2005.
In 2006 the 1983-born multi talent created the Portrait of a Generation project with his partner Marco - which involved pasting massive portraits of 'thugs' from Paris' sketchy banlieues area, in upper class districts.
Above: Women are Heroes - Kibera, Nairobi, Kenya - 2008
The images added humanity and humour to individuals that the French media had demonised and stereotyped as public threats: pulling comedy faces, JRs images broke the boundaries of Paris' ghettoised areas - adding names, phone numbers and addresses to the portraits - creating awareness on both sides, of these falsely constructed prejudices and zenophobia.
In 2007 the pair extended their project even further with Face 2 Face, believed to be the biggest of it's kind ever: taking portraits of Palestinans and Isralies in cities across Israel, then pasting them face to face on both sides of security fences and barriers. Expected to be arrested, instead the images were welcomed and praised - showing a surprising acceptance.
Above: Women are Heroes - Favela Morro Da Providencia, Rio de Janeiro - 2008
His latest project is his most powerful, which began in 2008: Women are Heroes captures and celebrates women who's dignity is the target of conflict - in Africa, Asia and South America. After recording their stories, he takes their portrait with 28mm film, and pastes them in local areas, to remind people of their strength, struggle and inspirational positive power.
Now an incredible documentary - out now - and travelling photo exhibition, the inspired, yet geniusly simple multimedia art and social activist exhibition grabbed the attention of TED - who awarded JR their $100,000, 2011 person of the year prize.Thoroughly deserved check out the trailers for the film below - and hear his brilliant interview on TED.com.
