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JR - Paris, Panthéon, 'Inside Out' Scene 1
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JR - Paris, Panthéon, 'Inside Out' Scene 2
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JR - Paris, Panthéon, 'Inside Out' Scene 3
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JR - Paris, Panthéon, 'Inside Out' Scene 4
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JR - Paris, Panthéon, 'Inside Out' Core Scene 5
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JR - Paris, Panthéon, 'Inside Out' Core Scene 6
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JR - Paris, Panthéon, 'Inside Out' Scene 7
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JR - Paris, Panthéon, 'Inside Out' Canopy Dome Scene 8
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JR - Paris, Panthéon, 'Inside Out' Elevated Grand View Scene 1
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JR - Paris, Panthéon, 'Inside Out' Elevated Grand View Scene 2
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JR - Paris, Panthéon, 'Inside Out' Elevated Grand View Scene 3
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JR - Paris, Panthéon, 'Inside Out' Elevated Grand View Scene 4

Text and photos by Chen Chi-Hsiang. Location: Paris Panthéon. Dates: June 3 to October 5. JR (born 1983) is France’s most prominent street photographer-artist; his website is among the most visited art sites globally. He won a TED Prize in 2011. Recently, JR and TED launched the participatory global art project "Inside Out." Wherever he goes, he invites everyone to participate, taking portraits of individuals and pasting them in urban corners to support his concepts and actions, sharing this valuable experience. His work focuses on anonymous figures—any citizen, villager, or district resident—as subjects conveying messages for local social anthropology. Using black-and-white photographic prints, he constructs his works on entire city walls as scaffolding, aiming to speak out for social justice.

Before this year’s sunny summer vacation, JR was invited to implement his "Inside Out" project at his beloved Paris Panthéon. He installed his works both inside and outside the currently under renovation Panthéon. The inviting organization, P.Belaval, stated: “JR’s art and projects align with ours. He invites every Parisian to participate in the Panthéon; his plan embodies humanistic and universal values.” (Note 1)

Currently, JR has wrapped the Panthéon’s dome, which is undergoing white plastic canvas renovations, displaying portraits of Parisians regardless of race, age, or social class. Inside the magnificent Panthéon, arranged in a cross-shaped space, the floor and dome are entirely covered with street-taken headshots. Visitors can walk directly on the artworks and stand atop the heads, offering a unique sensation. Notably, he uses the Panthéon’s cross-shaped white ring structure as the core. From the central circular perspective, small headshots gradually expand outward into larger ones, forming a perspective image of heads. Looking from the center toward the surroundings is spectacular; looking up at the canopy dome also reveals a constructed perspective, with all the heads above gazing at the passing visitors. Paris City Councilor Florence Berthout said: “Artist JR’s installation at the Panthéon deeply moved me because, in my view, it demonstrates republican principles—it is everyone participating in celebrating the nation.” (Note 2)

The artist JR stated: “From a realistic perspective, art cannot change the world, but it can change our thoughts and perspectives. Art can also create spaces for dialogue and discussion; thus, art can change the world!” JR added, “I hope that through participating in this global art project, you will stand up for the issues you care about. Gathering everyone’s strength—we can turn the world upside down... INSIDE OUT!” Bringing the street-dwelling JR into the Panthéon, he vividly presents ordinary people, attempting to find lost dignity and courage for this generation. (Note 3)

Note 1: From the Paris City Hall June activity booklet - Les figures du pantheon p12. Note 2: Ibid., p14. Note 3: From the dealer gallery Zhang Guoquan’s July Facebook post.