AM26 Arts and Culture Brochure

Wrinkles of the City by JR How does a city remember – and who carries its memories? Launched in 2008 in the historic Spanish town of Cartagena, Wrinkles of the City is a global artistic endeavour that has since unfolded across six major cities: Cartagena, Havana, Shanghai, Los Angeles, Berlin and Istanbul. Through extensive travel and deep engagement with local communities, French artist JR has sought to honour the elderly residents of these cities, using their faces as living records of both personal and collective histories. This evocative project explores the universal process of ageing, positioning the elderly as vital witnesses to societal transformation. In a world often dominated by youth-centric narratives and relentless progress, JR’s work restores dignity and visibility to those whose contributions and experiences are frequently overlooked. Each portrait serves not only as an intimate reflection of individual life stories but also as a lens on the broader social, cultural and political contexts of the cities themselves. JR’s approach is both authentic and unembellished. By capturing the unique features, expressions and textures of his subjects’ faces, he transcends mere individuality, highlighting intergenerational narratives and the shared human experience of ageing. The project ultimately elevates these citizens as living archives of modern history, reminding audiences that the wrinkles etched on their faces are emblematic of resilience, memory and the passage of time. As such, Wrinkles of the City is a compelling intersection of art, history and social commentary, offering a profound reflection on the human condition. JR French artist JR creates monumental public art projects that inspire passersby to ask questions and confront their own perceptions. After his first major project, Portrait of a Generation (2004-2006), which challenged stereotypes of Parisian suburban youth, he began working internationally. Whether pasting the faces of Israeli and Palestinian people on both sides of the Separation Wall (2007), the eyes of women on train cars in Kibera, Kenya (2009), or a giant toddler peeking over the US-Mexico border fence (2017), JR’s larger-than-life installations amplify the stories of everyday people and foster dialogue. From creating a trompe-l’œil at the Louvre with 400 volunteers (2019) to pasting alongside incarcerated men in a California maximum-security prison (2019-2022), he seeks to involve everyone in the act of artistic creation, hoping to spark conversations and drive social change. As of September 2025, his global participatory art project Inside Out has empowered more than half a million people to stand up for what they believe in through large-scale black-and-white portraits. JR also maintains a rigorous studio practice, creating gallery artworks that are exhibited internationally. He has had major retrospectives at the Brooklyn Museum (2019) and the Maison Européenne de la Photographie (2018), and shown works and installations at the Venice Biennale (2022), the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (2019) and the NGV Triennial (2020). JR is a 2026 Cultural Leader Image: Wrinkles of the City, Action in Shanghai - Shi Li, horizontal - China 2010(Opposite) Image: Wrinkles of the City - Marino Sauro Oton - Cartagena, Spain 2008 Arts and Culture Programme Arts and Culture Programme Annual Meeting 2026 Annual Meeting 202628 29