A Woman's Got Her Eye On You

For the French photographer known only as JR, all the world's an art gallery. He hangs his photos outdoors (and often illegally) in cities and conflict-ridden areas around the world.

For his Face2Face project, JR posted huge portraits of Israelis and Palestinians face-to-face in eight Palestinian and Israeli cities, on both sides of the security fence. It was the biggest illegal photo exhibit ever.

His latest however, is legit and one he's brought back to grace the shores of the Seine in his native Paris.

"Women Are Heroes" is a collection of the eyes of women JR has met in some of the most troubled spots on the globe: Kenya, India and Brazil. He believes the images put a spotlight on the dignity of women whom he feels are often the targets of conflict. The artist has aimed his camera at these women and posted the larger-than-life images where they can tstare back at society.

As visitors approach the Ile Saint-Louis they're observed by giant eyes JR says are "powerful because the women are powerful, you can see the energy and the strength in those eyes."

One pair of eyes belong to a woman in her 40s from a shanty town in Rio. Her name is Rosiete. JR told  the BBC: "Right in front of her door you have kids with big weapons waiting and selling drugs all day and she is there cooking."

He adds that when he mounted his photos in Brazil last year the drug dealers lay down their weapons for the day. 

"You can't say that art has changed the lives of that community or their people forever, but it did change something in their hearts."

Even with no admission charge to JR's open-air museum he has met almost all of the exhibit costs himself and also opened a cultural centre in Brazil. Barring vandalism or inclement weather the images of these heroic women will continue to cast their gaze from October 3 to November 2.

Photos courtesy of Elyotone via Flickr.