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

    I didn't need to know those leg monsters had Male versions to tell you the truth...

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

    Wonder how many people tripped over that looking at their phone?

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

    Silent Hill? (seriously, Silent Hill 2 has an enemy that is 2 sets of legs like this, also called a mannequin)

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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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    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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    Night Owl
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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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    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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    Doober
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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
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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
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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
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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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    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
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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
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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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