About Face
- Posted by: Casey Caplowe
- on May 24, 2007 at 7:43 pm
“The image you have of the conflict is not the right one,” says the French photographer and street artist known as JR, on the topic of Israel and Palestine. While we imagine two worlds hopelessly disconnected, the reality is something else. JR learned this firsthand when, visiting the area two years ago, he was struck by the enormous commonalities between the two sides.
Emerging from that trip, the Face2Face project is his effort to bridge that divide in understanding by placing photos of Israelis and Palestinians—with the same jobs—beside one another. JR spent months meeting and photographing these locals, and last spring he and his collaborator, Marco, plastered oversized print-outs of the portraits onto buildings (in eight cities) across the region, as well as onto the West Bank security wall, confronting passersby with a rare artistic rather than political intervention.
It’s an audacious project, both in its scope and in its willingness to point out the obvious similarities between two groups who so often consider themselves irreconcilably different; with that audacity the Face2Face project asks people to think about the conflict not just accept it. “When you try things that people say you cannot do,” JR explains, “you realize they’re wrong.”
PHOTOS jr-art.net/WpN
LEARN MORE face2faceproject.com
BOOK AND FILM Look for the Face2Face book this June and a documentary in September.
DISCUSSION: 6 Comments
I respect any effort to bring these two communities together in a productive and peaceful manner. However, it’s a huge mistake to think that by making them understand how similar they are they can make peace with one another. This conflict is about a brutal military occupation and apartheid. Without freedom and equailty for both peoples there will never be mutual understanding.
Also I have seen the terrible and devastating separation wall up close, I must tell you that it is a complete misnomer to call it a “security fence.” This wall brings Israel nothing but lack of security.
I like the artistic aspect of it, it’s a good idea. But politically, I don’t think it will make a difference between the Israelis and Palestinians. Unfortunately, there is too much history involved and a couple people changing their minds would not change the whole community’s minds.
I disagree with dania’s comment. Conflicts are too often about getting what you need or want and not often about how you can work together. If anyone truely wants peace, both sides are going to have to eventually forgive the horrible events of the past and cooperate and cooexist. This isn’t easy, but it is essential.
I think this is a good idea in that it shows both sides that the “others” are not so different. If that is the case, why should you hate your neighbors with such passion and wish to not grant them freedom and equality? It makes people question their “natural” reactions and responses. Is it really justified or is it the historical status quo?
Once people reject the way they see themselves and the other side, the two groups have the opportunity to learn from the conflict and rebuild a relationship.
I admire JR for his artistic idea and have great admiration that he is doing what he can to bring people together through creativity vs destruction however sadly the conflict is similar to what the US has done to Iraq which is invade, occupy and oppress. In fact there was talk about building a wall in Iraq too. Now how would you feel if there were goofy portraits of the Americans and Iraqis side by side on a wall built by the American government? Worse yet imagine someone invaded the US and they put a wall up and someone put portraits of the invaded and the invaders how would you feel?
Its good to see that both sides are being portrayed in a human light, but until equal rights are part of the scene, its not going to make a difference.
Danny
Memorial gifts
I’ve been recently to Bethleem and unfortunately have seen how the project looked, just a few days before the recent Gaza invasion. You can read about it here : http://new-art.blogspot.com/2009/01/facing-failure-visit-to-bethlehem.html But generally speaking, the site was sad, most of the posters were destroyed in a deliberate way…