In 2005 JR traveled to Israel and Palestine, where he and his friend Marco were inspired to carry ou

In 2005 JR traveled to Israel and Palestine, where he and his friend Marco were inspired to carry out a public project similar to Portrait of a Generation. The following year, during a period of fierce tension and fighting in the Gaza Strip, they began meeting with and making portraits of Palestinians and Israelis who held the same jobs: teachers, doctors, athletes, artists, and religious leaders. In contrast to portrayals in the media, which emphasized the seriousness of the conflict and the literal wall that separates the two communities, many of these portraits, like those of Portrait of a Generation, are humorous and joyful. As part of the project, JR asked participants to sign a letter declaring they were for peace and a two-state solution to the conflict.Working with his collaborators and on-site volunteers, JR eventually pasted these large-format portraits side by side on both the Israeli and Palestinian sides of the border wall. Ayman Abu Alzulof, a Palestinian actor and tour guide from the West Bank town of Beit Sahour, said he agreed to be photographed because the images would be seen on both sides of the border. “It shows thatboth parties look like each other, as human beings,” he explained. “It’s difficult to differentiate between a Palestinian face and an Israeli face. It will also show that we live here. I think a lot of people will talk about it.” At the time, it was considered the largest illegal photography exhibition ever created, spanning more than eight cities, including Bethlehem, Tel Aviv, Ramallah, and Jerusalem.Hear JR speak more on his Faces 2 Faces project, and see more from JR’s career in JR: Chronicles.JR (French, born 1983). 28 Millimètres, Face 2 Face, Jimmy, Taxi Driver, 2007. ⇨ Muna, Teacher, 2007. ⇨ Loya, Farmer, 2007. ⇨ Khader, Body Guard, 2007. Gelatin silver photographs. © JR-ART.NET⁠ -- source link

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