I LOVE JR's work... the french photographer who has done huge photo projects in slums and cities allover the world, engaging the people who live them in the projects. Imagine a whole favela with huge photographs pasted on the walls, roofs, busses etc. Its just superb!! I have followed his work since I went to his first solo-echibition in my local bar in London. That was 6 years ago. Now his film Women are Heroes is out. Check it out!!
I LOVE this project by brazilian artist Vik Muniz. He has worked with the people working at a huge garbage dump in Rio and together with them made art & portraits of all the junk. When I was in Brazil the film was just released so I saw it in portuguese. Understood about half of it! I love when art is combined with social issues and responsibility, and when there is human interactions what change people's lives - like in this case. You should definately see the film!! And read more about him in The New York Times!
Portrait of Vik Muniz by Todd Heisler/The New York Times
The other night I watched Grey Gardens, the 70's documentary about mother and daughter Big Edie and Little Edie. I've been wanting to see this for years, and then there it was, in my friend's bookshelf. The film documents the mother and daughter with high-society connections, related by blood to Jackie O., yet live in a mansion eaten through by raccoons and cats and piled high with tin cans and newspaper. Little Edie became famous for the way she puts together her outfits, from random things laying about. To her, they were the absolutely right "costume for the day."
I recently saw the documentary Afghan Star. It gives a great insight into Afghanistan after Taliban. The contest both unites the country, introduces them to democratic decision making and became a super hype. There were only two women competing in the song contest, and one of them, when she was voted out, danced on stage - which meant that she was risking her life, as dancing is not accepted.
