JR's cover for TIME magazine tackles the guns in america problem

TIME magazine just released a special multimedia story titled ‘guns in america’. created in collaboration with french street artist JR, the work features an interactive video mural portraying 245 americans on all sides of the debate. comprised of politicians, protesters, gun violence victims, doctors, hunters, soldiers, and citizens, the work of art aims to put light to the national debate around guns.

the JR collaboration with TIME magazine can be seen online here and on the printed version. an installation can be visited at new york’s PACE gallery and at the houston bowery art wall downtown. the magazine has also put out a call on its website for people around the world to host projection events to generate more awareness and public discussion of the issue.

all screenshots taken from TIME magazine’s video

the project was developed in the course of five months where JR traveled to three american cities: st. louis, washington D.C, and dallas. there, he photographed and filmed 245 Americans with different positions on the issue. the final work shows all the people who took part of the project around a table as in fierce debate with each other, reported artnet. the interactive website allows viewers to explore each story by clicking on the subject.

‘artists see beyond walls, across divides, around corners,’ TIME editor in chief edward felsenthal wrote on an editorial about the cover. ‘through their eyes, we understand the world in new, clearer ways… how would an artist, one whose body of work explores the world’s most complex social issues, approach the topic of guns in america today? if he were JR, a native of paris, it would be with fresh eyes (behind his trademark sunglasses) and an open mind.’