Have you spotted any familiar faces around London lately?
It’s a strange moment that stops you in your tracks when you walk down the street and spot a giant portrait of (insert person you’d love/hate to bump into here) beneath your feet. This scenario isn’t entirely unlikely, because the faces of thousands of Londoners are currently being plastered on city roads and buildings in multiple locations to celebrate the Euro 2020.
The portraits are part of an art exhibition titled ‘Inside Out’ by the renowned French artist JR, and include the faces of key workers and school children, as well as thousands of Londoners who were willing to get their photo taken for all of the city to see. The exhibition launch coincided with the kick-off of the UEFA EURO 2020 Football Championships, and aims to celebrate London’s diverse communities and their local heroes, as well as football and its ability to bring people together.
The first of five locations covered with the portraits was Tower Bridge, which received a gallery longer than two football pitches on Sunday, June 13. Here’s where you’ll find the portraits of Londoners during the month of June and beginning of July:
- Thursday June 17, Friday June 25, Saturday June 26 – Lewisham (Lewisham Town Hall)
- Friday June 18, Saturday June 19, Sunday June 20 – Granary Square, Kings Cross
- Monday June 21- Bernie Grants Arts Centre, Tottenham
- Wednesday June 23, Thursday June 24, Wednesday July 7, Thursday July 8 – Royal Victoria Dock, Royal Docks
Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, commented: “Five locations across our capital will be transformed into spectacular open exhibition spaces in a celebration of our diversity and the incredible efforts of our community heroes over the last year. It will show the power of football to bring people together and will be another great reason for Londoners and visitors to safely enjoy our capital this summer.”
Inside Out has displayed the faces of more than 400,000 people across 138 countries during the past decade, appearing in places such as New York, Hong Kong, and even the North Pole. JR is currently also showcasing an exhibition titled ‘Chronicles’ at Saatchi Gallery — find more info here.