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Artist Scares People By Putting Distressingly Looking Mannequins In Unexpected City Corners (58 Pics)
American street artist Mark Jenkins is the name behind the faceless figures popping up in cities around the world. Staged in provocative poses, his startlingly lifelike mannequin art installations are often social critiques meant to challenge the viewer to question their reality and raise social awareness. In what he dubs urban theater, these realistic sculptures provoke an array of reactions that transform his installations into multi-layered performance art.
The Urban Theater is Jenkins’s first monograph. The book "documents a broad spectrum of his compelling, often disturbing street installation art," as well as viewers' spontaneous responses and interactions with his interventions.
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#1
KarmaQueen 6 years ago
I would be one of those people who go and look to see what is going on and if any help is needed. Then in turn look like a fool.
Jenkins began his street art career in 2003 by placing a figure in a refuse dump in Rio de Janeiro to draw attention to the plight of homeless children in the streets. Since then the innovative artist has had his work exhibited in renowned venues such as Lazarides Galleries and the Kunsthalle Wien and publicly funded in cities worldwide. His unique art is made for the street, but Jenkins has also worked with the same themes in nature and indoors.
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#2
Twenty øne doggos 6 years ago
Well, that guy is going to brighten up the day.
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SkyTheImaginer 6 years ago
Let's ignore the mannequin for a second, why is that guy carrying a lamp???
John Sutton 6 years ago
This is what happens when you don't put the safety on your portal gun.
The ongoing theme of the artist's work tends to veer towards dark subjects.“They often tend to be marginalized individuals, sometimes in lonely states, so it’s poetic but also dark. For example, the guy in the river is holding a bunch of colored balloons that are almost trying to magically lift him out. There’s always an undercurrent of hope," he explained in an interview.
#3
Virgil Blue 6 years ago
I didn't need to know those leg monsters had Male versions to tell you the truth...
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“I like getting people to question their surroundings, what is real and what isn’t. These days, people are so buried in their mobile phones and I just wanted to get them to look up," he said about his cool art, "So at the beginning, I was collecting social data about people’s reactions. But six years later, these images are more about poetry, of capturing a magical moment.”
#4
The Girl on Fire 6 years ago
Way to scare everyone into thinking a mass suicide is happening....
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Sandevil Sandh 6 years ago (edited)
tutorial how to avoid some friends on your way home for introvert
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Eagle Girl 6 years ago
So the passerbys approached, passed, THEN looked back at a guy mid flight on a wall
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Gary 6 years ago
I've always wondered what would happen if you sat on one of those high pressure fountains.
Monika Soffronow 6 years ago
The perfect illustration of the fact that our bodies mainly consist of water! gloub blub
#9
Bored Fox 6 years ago
I thought the same. Where I live there was one statue that got removed because too many people thought that it was a real person in danger and they called police and ambulance too many times.
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tuzdayschild 6 years ago (edited)
She could be a mate for Hagrid. She's way too big to be real.
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Amanda Slattery 6 years ago
So many of these are scary . I’d hate to come across any of them at night.
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Non-New-Toni-An 6 years ago
I saw a shop sign that said Porto, a town in Portugal. So it might be Portugal,
Load More Replies... Sandi Leach 6 years ago
Now get down from there! I warned you about those Balance shoes you bought...
#17
Foxxy 6 years ago
Should have had his hand up with a plastic ring in a box so it looked like a proposal.
Mihiteruarewa Rangitaawa 6 years ago
Lols...That would have looked really good.
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Susann Campbell 6 years ago
Looks like someone traded shoes. He was wearing a very nice pair in the last photo of him.
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Daniela-Iulia Balaciu 6 years ago
a lover tried to escape, but did not appreciate it correctly
#20
Natasha Forchione 6 years ago
awww...she thinks its street art. I wonder how much money it collected!
Mic Araron 6 years ago
it is technically street art. but probably not the kind of street art we're all thinking :D
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#21
Mic Araron 6 years ago
Someone could mistake this as a suicidal hanging. Back when I was in college, an art student had a project that required her to use an outdoor area around campus to create a political piece. Her art was supposed to be about recycling and stuff, and she had a black trash bag that was hanging on a tree. somehow the trashbag got morphed to look like a person with a rope around its neck and a lot of people who saw this gave so much negative feedback. This was in a christian university too. the art department had to give a formal apology on behalf of the student. I understood and supported her as this was not her intention at all.
Susann Campbell 6 years ago
Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mamma's Hung You in the Closet and I'm Feelin' So Sad
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Arnie Slater 6 years ago
Oh come on...why not have his bright red tongue stuck to the pole... I double dog dare ya
#24
KarmaQueen 6 years ago
I would be checking in on this child to make sure he or she was okay and not alone
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Darren Wick 6 years ago
Not sure this is a good one thinking that someone at high tide might see her and try to save them
#26
Monika Soffronow 6 years ago
It's so easy to forget about time when you find a sweet spot to lie down and philosophize a little about life
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Zelda Blue 6 years ago
There are many comments for this one.... Two women butting heads? Two people with half a brain trying to be smarter? Two blondes working out a problem together? I'll stop there.
Susann Campbell 6 years ago
I'm a blond and I think you missed a few that I thought was way more funnier .
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Marky Mark And The Funky Bunch 6 years ago
Just some Droogs waiting for the bus to go to the Korova Milk Bar?
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Monika Soffronow 6 years ago
Some passersby look at me as though I am nothing but garbage! Civility nowadays ...
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LuckyL 6 years ago
and also the one with the person hanging above the street.
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Lilith Hollis 6 years ago
I think I would have a heart attack if I saw this I think there are better ways to highlight your cause than this it's very stupid
criminalgirl 6 years ago
Absolutely horrible, not anything but horrible. What about kids, or older people? Shame on you.
The Girl on Fire 6 years ago
This isn't "trolling", this is making people think someone has been murdered. Not funny.
Olya Libby 6 years ago
omg... those are horrible... also how many people called the police when they saw that!!!
#39
Parmeisan 6 years ago
I particularly enjoy that the adult, from their loftier angle, has no idea that there's anything weird going on. "Just ignore him, dear, come along, we're late...." and the kid's all "CAN'T YOU SEE HE HAS NO FACE"
Load More Replies... criminalgirl 6 years ago
It started out as a bit of fun but you lost your sense of humour and went for drama. Utter c**p.
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Mandy Delaforce (PC Girl) 6 years ago
preparation for the other photo with them all around the top of the building.
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JOVIE JIMENEZ 6 years ago
holy cow! i don't wanna see this.. I might freak out and shout!!! 😱😱😱
#56
criminalgirl 6 years ago
This is not in any way, curious or funny or making any point. It's just totally irresponsible and frightening for most people.
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What do you think ?
Joe Blowe 6 years ago
Some of the ones placed like they were in trouble, for example, the ones that look like people about to commit suicide and or "floating" on the water may be illegal. Imagine if you are driving along and you see a person (mannequin in this case) about to jump. You would be more at risk of getting in a car accident.
Keessie 6 years ago
Children could actually have a traumatic experience. Especially if it's not possible to verify nothing was wrong because you're driving by in a car or not notice it as an adult. Nope, this is one big fail.
Load More Replies... Priscila Pedrosa 6 years ago
Don't like this kinda of art. Some of it can bring serious consequences to sensitive people, like ederly or postraumatic experience. Once it is placed in public spaces more careful consideration should be done
Foxxy 6 years ago
Some of these are in real bad taste and can cause severe reactions from unsuspecting people. Including people that have PTSD, recently lost a loved one to suicide etc. For someone to willingly to want to cause distress to other people is callous and uncalled for. And people who enjoy traumatising people is just sick and seriously need their head read.
Sill Marien 6 years ago
that's stupid and probably caused tons of unnecessary emergency services calls
Bukky Olaneye 6 years ago
Not children alone, adults could also be traumatized,not cool at all!
Full Name 6 years ago
"are often social critiques". Yeah, sometimes maybe but most of this is specifically meant to be outrageous and shocking for attention. F*****g with people who have empathy is no way to get attention, man. Please grow up and reflect on things and hopefully you'll leave stuff like these behind.
Joe Blowe 6 years ago
Some of the ones placed like they were in trouble, for example, the ones that look like people about to commit suicide and or "floating" on the water may be illegal. Imagine if you are driving along and you see a person (mannequin in this case) about to jump. You would be more at risk of getting in a car accident.
Keessie 6 years ago
Children could actually have a traumatic experience. Especially if it's not possible to verify nothing was wrong because you're driving by in a car or not notice it as an adult. Nope, this is one big fail.
Load More Replies... Priscila Pedrosa 6 years ago
Don't like this kinda of art. Some of it can bring serious consequences to sensitive people, like ederly or postraumatic experience. Once it is placed in public spaces more careful consideration should be done
Foxxy 6 years ago
Some of these are in real bad taste and can cause severe reactions from unsuspecting people. Including people that have PTSD, recently lost a loved one to suicide etc. For someone to willingly to want to cause distress to other people is callous and uncalled for. And people who enjoy traumatising people is just sick and seriously need their head read.
Sill Marien 6 years ago
that's stupid and probably caused tons of unnecessary emergency services calls
Bukky Olaneye 6 years ago
Not children alone, adults could also be traumatized,not cool at all!
Full Name 6 years ago
"are often social critiques". Yeah, sometimes maybe but most of this is specifically meant to be outrageous and shocking for attention. F*****g with people who have empathy is no way to get attention, man. Please grow up and reflect on things and hopefully you'll leave stuff like these behind.
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