Frieze fever may be over, but there’s still plenty of reason to linger in the English capital as Lazarides Rathbone gallery launches an exhibition by the Parisian artist JR. The self-styled photograffeur – a portmanteau that marries his photography and graffiti art practices – is presenting all-new works from a duet of recent series, Les Bosquets (2014-present) and Unframed Ellis Island (2014-present).
Spread over two floors of the London gallery, the show, entitled ‘Crossing’, pits large-scale colour prints against the enigmatic artist’s provocative black-and-white paper artworks.
The Unframed Ellis Island project explores New York’s historic gateway to the millions of immigrants that entered the United States. It’s a series that is sure to strike a chord for many of the exhibition’s visitors, echoing Europe’s spiralling migrant crisis. A short film (starring a suitably gravelly Robert De Niro and penned by Eric Roth) is a particularly haunting tribute to the landmark’s now-abandoned hospital, which has been taken over JR’s riveting art installations.
It’s a stark contrast to the spirit-lifting troupe of ballet dancers arcing fluidly across the second series on view. Created in collaboration with the New York City Ballet, Les Bosquets saw JR step into the choreographer’s seat for the first timewas inspired by his inaugural art project, Portrait of a Generation, and the 2005 riots in France.
To mark the London show, Phaidon is publishing the first major monograph on the artist, available for purchase now. Eschewing the traditional foreword, the new tome introduces JR’s story with a specially commissioned graphic novel by comic artist Joseph Remnant, and charts his meteoric rise from street artist to urban activist.
French artist JR recently unveiled all-new works from a duet of recent series, ’Les Bosquets’ (2014-present) and ’Unframed Ellis Island’ (2014-present), at Lazarides Rathbone gallery in London.
The ’Unframed Ellis Island’ project explores New York’s historic gateway to the millions of immigrants that entered the United States.
Watch the trailer for Ellis here, staring Robert De Niro, written by Eric Roth, and directed by JR
Spread over two floors of the London gallery, the show, entitled ‘Crossing’, pits large-scale colour prints against the artist’s provocative black-and-white paper artworks.
’28 Millimètres, Portrait of a generation, Les Bosquets, Eye See You, Montfermeil, France’, by JR, 2014
’28 Millimètres, Portrait of a generation, Les Bosquets, Jeté cambré, Montfermeil, France’, by JR, 2014
’Unframed Ellis Island’ is sure to strike a chord for many of the exhibition’s visitors, echoing Europe’s spiralling migrant crisis.
’Unframed, Czech grand mother in Ellis Island’, by JR, 2014. Courtesy of National Park Service, Statue of Liberty National Monument, USA
Installation view of ’Crossing’.
INFORMATION
‘Crossing’ runs until 12 November 2015
ADDRESS
Lazarides
11 Rathbone Place
London W1T 1HR
-
Royal Huisman brings superyacht scale to a new age of sail with the 81M Sky projectRoyal Huisman’s The Sky project is a mission to build the world’s tallest sloop – we explore the technical challenges of creating a sailing superyacht
-
Could this 3D-printed dwelling solve Luxembourg’s housing crisis?With Tiny House Lux, ODA Architects showcases a functional, low-cost and sustainable home that serves as an important case study for the potential benefits of 3D-printed construction
-
A soulful new installation by Ini Archibong raises spirits for visitors to a Hebridean island distilleryTo celebrate its 200th anniversary, Port Ellen unveils a striking sculpture that captures the smoky mysteries of the Islay ‘ghost’ distillery’s seriously palate-blowing Scotch
-
Nadia Lee Cohen distils a distant American memory into an unflinching new photo book‘Holy Ohio’ documents the British photographer and filmmaker’s personal journey as she reconnects with distant family and her earliest American memories
-
Out of office: The Wallpaper* editors’ picks of the weekIt’s been a week of escapism: daydreams of Ghana sparked by lively local projects, glimpses of Tokyo on nostalgic film rolls, and a charming foray into the heart of Christmas as the festive season kicks off in earnest
-
Ed Ruscha’s foray into chocolate is sweet, smart and very AmericanArt and chocolate combine deliciously in ‘Made in California’, a project from the artist with andSons Chocolatiers
-
Inside the work of photographer Seydou Keïta, who captured portraits across West Africa‘Seydou Keïta: A Tactile Lens’, an exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum, New York, celebrates the 20th-century photographer
-
Out of office: The Wallpaper* editors’ picks of the weekFrom sumo wrestling to Singaporean fare, medieval manuscripts to magnetic exhibitions, the Wallpaper* team have traversed the length and breadth of culture in the capital this week
-
María Berrío creates fantastical worlds from Japanese-paper collages in New YorkNew York-based Colombian artist María Berrío explores a love of folklore and myth in delicate and colourful works on paper
-
Out of office: the Wallpaper* editors’ picks of the weekAs we approach Frieze, our editors have been trawling the capital's galleries. Elsewhere: a 'Wineglass' marathon, a must-see film, and a visit to a science museum
-
June Leaf’s New York survey captures a life in motionJune Leaf made art in many forms for over seven decades, with an unstoppable energy and fierce appetite leading her to rationalise life in her own terms.
