Time magazine to use French artist’s 45-metre Ukraine print on cover

A 45-metre-long printed photo made by French artist and photographer JR in support of Ukraine is to be featured on the next front cover of renowned American magazine Time.

The artwork was unveiled in Lviv, western Ukraine, and held aloft by around 100 volunteers. JR and French director and actor Mathieu Kassovitz took the print to the city on Monday (March 14).

It depicts a smiling Ukrainian girl, photographed by Artem Iurchenko, along with the words “the resilience of Ukraine”.

Time, which has collaborated with JR in the past, announced yesterday (March 17) that a photo of the print, taken by a drone, would be on its March 28 cover.

“Since Russia’s invasion began, dozens of Ukraine’s 7.5 million children have been killed and thousands of others have left in search of safety,” Time wrote about its decision to use the photo as its cover.

Among those who have fled is five-year-old Valeriia, whose smiling image is captured in the photo. She is from Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Time wrote that Valeriia and her mother Taisiia left Ukraine on March 9 to go to Poland, with Taisiia explaining that she fled to keep her daughter safe.

“I love everything about her. She is my sunshine, my joy,” she told Time.

JR is a French photographer best known for fly-posting – displaying without permission – large murals on walls. His real identity remains unknown.

Mathieu Kassovitz is best known for the films Amélie (2001), La Haine (1995) and The Fifth Element (1997).

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