Artist JR Pays Homage To Hong Kong Atop a Footbridge In Central
Pasted on the rooftop of an elevated footbridge above Connaught Road in Central are 16 large-scale black and white portraits of Hong Kong city-dwellers staring up at the skyscrapers with provocative facial expressions. This is French artist JR’s latest outdoor installation.
Co-presented by Galerie Perrotin and the Consulate General of France in Hong Kong and Macau, “INSIDE OUT” is a global art project and brainchild of JR. Fully utilizing the urban landscape as his canvas, JR paints a socially engaging message about our city and its people that is easily visible to a local and an international audience. The artist received the TED Prize in 2011, and has since been working hard on developing the “INSIDE OUT” series.
JR’s past and present projects evoke a humanistic portrayal of people residing in locations that inspire him. His work has been displayed on the walls of cities such as Shanghai, New York and Paris and in museums like the Tate Modern in London, the MOCA Museum in LA, and The Arsenal during the Venice Biennale in Italy.
A total of 175 people were photographed for the project, with a selection of 16 portraits, each extending 16 meters (52.5 feet) in length and width, for the outdoor exhibition. This compelling piece of public art can be viewed from public places in the IFC Mall, the 55th floor of the library in IFC 2, and at the Galerie Perrotin, located on the 17th floor at 50 Connaught Road Central.
Galerie Perrotin is also holding an exhibition entitled “Pattern” which features other photographs, wood panels, and cast aluminum sculptures from the INSIDE OUT series. In addition, the gallery is also showing a new work by Peter Zimmerman entitled “D.R.O.P.” which was created by superimposing layer of paint to provide a subtle transparent effect by using epoxy resin in which acrylic pigments are randomly inserted.
Both exhibitions are on display until November 10th, 2012. Find out more at perrotin.com, or check out the gallery in person: Gallerie Perrotin, 17th Floor, 50 Connaught Road, Central.