All Eyes on Rio

Pay a visit to the downtown district of Lapa this month, and you might get the distinct impression you’re being watched…emblazoned across the iconic Arcos da Lapa (Lapa Arches) are black and white images of pairs of eyes, magnified to an immense scale, and staring down at the revellers, street dwellers and assorted creatures of the night that populate this lively yet edgy neighbourhood. The images are part of an art installation project from JR, the anarchistic French photographer whose distinct black and white images of faces have found there way onto walls, rooftops and vehicles across the world. As part of his Women are Heroes project, which sees JR highlighting the challenges and violence faced by women in troubled countries across the world from Sierra Leon and Cambodia, to Brazil, Morocco and India. Armed with his 28mm camera, JR captures the faces, smiles, frowns and frustrations of women the world over, and uses these images to create an open-air exhibition in the women’s own communities.  In Rio, JR worked with women from the notoriously violent Morro da Providencia favela, and homes, shops and public buildings throughout the community are now emblazoned with the images he has captured. If the giant eyes that stare down from the Arcos da Lapa spark your interest in JR’s work, head down to the cultural centre Casa França-Brasil, at Avenida Visconde de Itaborai 78, Centro, where an exhibition showcases his work both in Rio and across the world. The exhibition runs until June 21, and the centre is open Tuesday – Sunday, 10am until 8pm. Entrance is free, hurrah!