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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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ViolinLover
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, whatever. As long as he’s not interrupting my reading....

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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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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.
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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.”
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Falcon
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The amount of calls to the police could be enough to get the artist into trouble.

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AuntyJem
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This makes me sad- it reminds me of seeing people jump from the World Trade Center on 9/11

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Simba
Simba
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like a scene from M. Night Shyamalan's The Happening.

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Daria Z
Daria Z
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks just like an episode of Fringe. Where a guy commanded other people. Oooh, scary!

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IamIrene
IamIrene
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like A-positive's to me. Better press the great big threatening button and have it done with.

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James Kane
James Kane
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Would you try to save even just one if the figures were real? However It does to me send out a very sad and extremely powerful message that while its not possible to be there when someone feels they can suffer no more we can, if we listen , try to guide them away from suicidal thoughts

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Ольга Федорчук
Ольга Федорчук
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This massive action is very strong. No one knows what is happening in the mind of the one who decides to take such a step. This is scary. Death has never looked so disgusting.

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Rose
Rose
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Disturbing! Also, wonder how many calls to 911 were made?

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OTTER
OTTER
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sure hope a good wind doesn’t come along. It might appear to be a mass ‘jump’. Ewe!!

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Memyselfand I
Memyselfand I
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh, wait...I saw this Torchwood/Dr. Who episode...It is a great idea and makes a very impactful statement.

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Lilith Hollis
Lilith Hollis
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

About suicide prevention I really believe that every city throughout the planet should have a building with these sculptures to reinforce the need to help prevent this silent killer from happening

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Shane Mace
Shane Mace
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I disagree. With all those mannequins there, how would you spot a real suicide attempt?

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Alexandra Hughes
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5 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

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Corey Deame
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Fake / photoshopped

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Laura Habermehl
Laura Habermehl
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5 years ago

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Oh my gosh you're right, this is photoshopped! Sorry you got downvotes! You can see repeats of people lol

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devi L.
devi L.
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If someone of color did this s**t they would've been arrested..

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Gary
Gary
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've always wondered what would happen if you sat on one of those high pressure fountains.

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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just taking a nap. This reminds me of cats sleeping in strange places and positions

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Sasy
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This one is unsafe, if i was driving and saw that...

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Foxxy
Foxxy
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Should have had his hand up with a plastic ring in a box so it looked like a proposal.

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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

awww...she thinks its street art. I wonder how much money it collected!

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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hehe the cop drives by like no big deal, it's just crazy 'ol ted

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Monika Soffronow
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some passersby look at me as though I am nothing but garbage! Civility nowadays ...

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Mark
Mark
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Would have been better to have had them bent over and used them as the bike rack ;)

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Parmeisan
Parmeisan
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One guy's like "Is everything okay over here? This is just a dummy, right?" and the other's like "I'm just gonna keep playing Angry Birds."

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Mark
Mark
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sonic the Hedgehog in human form doing his bit to clean up the streets :)

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#48

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BusLady
BusLady
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These airliners should really find a better way to get rid of their trash.

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BusLady
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Really disturbing. Last winter, a man frooze to death in my city.

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Tahani
Tahani
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Seriously f****d up to be honest, that's not art that's asking for trouble, I hope he'll pay the police costs too for people calling them about a possible suicide!

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Keessie
Keessie
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Another one that's not ok in any way. It's not just adults that come outside. Kids see the world in a very different fashion and this could be potentially traumatic.

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