Jr

 

interview by OLIVIER ZAHM
all images copyright of jr-art.net and Adagp, Paris, 2017

AGNÈS VARDA AND JR IN NORMANDY DURING THE SHOOT OF THEIR FILM FACES PLACES, COPYRIGHT AGNÈS VARDA-JR-CINÉ-TAMARIS, SOCIAL ANIMALS, 2016

OLIVIER ZAHM — My first question is about your empathy — you’re constantly connecting with people in a very joyful and positive way. Are you the last optimistic person on this planet?

JR — [Laughs] I would say that there are enough pessimists. It’s quite original to be optimistic! And as artists, if we lose the utopia of constant optimism and possibilities, then who else is going to take that stand? No matter what, I’ll always stay an optimist and an utopist, because if we, as artists, lose that, the world is lost.

OLIVIER ZAHM — I agree. But can an artist save the world? Or make it a better place?

JR…