154 pages Text(s) by Marco Barrebi Photograph(s) by JR 31 x 24.5 cm Language: English Hardback Publisher: Lazarides Gallery 2008
28 Millimeters: A Journey Through JR’s 28mm Projects is an essential monograph by French artist JR, first published in 2008 by Lazarides Gallery. This visually striking hardback documents the early years of JR’s socially engaged photographic interventions, created with his trademark 28mm lens and pasted illegally on walls in urban spaces around the world. From the Parisian suburbs to the favelas of Rio, these monumental portraits challenge media narratives and reclaim public space through art.
Born in Paris in 1983, JR began his career as a teenage graffiti writer before turning to photography. His “28 Millimeters” series—particularly the Portrait of a Generation project, realized in collaboration with filmmaker Ladj Ly—emerged in the aftermath of the 2005 riots in France. Using close-up black-and-white portraits of youth from marginalized communities, JR gave visibility and dignity to faces often distorted by mainstream media.
28 Millimeters is more than a collection of photographs: it’s a manifesto for street-level activism and a blueprint for JR’s global career. Combining art, documentary, and urban rebellion, the book is a landmark in 21st-century street art and a must-have for collectors, photographers, and anyone interested in socially engaged visual culture.
