The following text is taken from the You Are Beautiful website:
“You Are Beautiful is a simple, powerful statement which is incorporated into the over absorption of mass media and lifestyles that are wrapped in consumer culture.”
“This statement and the context in which someone finds it gives meaning to its message and purpose to this project.
The intention behind this project is to reach beyond ourselves as individuals to make a difference by creating moments of positive self realization in those who happen across the statement: You Are Beautiful.”
“Intention is the most important aspect of the You Are Beautiful project in its idea of purity. Graffiti and street art are an act not a style, but stylistically large corporations have been copying and using the ‘urban decay’ look to sell products.”
“It all comes down to intention. Nothing is sacred. Everything that has a perceived value becomes commodified. Companies hire out teenagers to slap up stickers and posters, and pay their fines when they are caught by the police. This is not street art, but a marketing campaign.”
“The reasons why street artists are doing what they are doing, in the way that they are doing, is not simply to question their surroundings; but to provide alternative perspectives, meanings, or values to those of consumerism.”
“Advertising elicits a response to buy, where this project elicits a response to do something. The attempt with You Are Beautiful is to create activism instead of consumerism.”
“You Are Beautiful uses the medium of advertising and commercialization to spread a positive message. Projects like these make a difference in the world by catching us in the midst of daily life and creating moments of positive self realization.”
I very much like the idea of this project. The message is simple, yet powerful, and couldn’t everyone hear those three little words said to them…?
wonderful photos, and a lovely idea. Being the hide-bound rule-follower that I am, I appreciate the fact that the statement does not have to be stuck (ie a sticker) someplace… let’s see if I can come up with some options of my own…
I found one of the stickers from this project next to one of my posters last year, a very nice thing to say. Maybe this should be your street art project?
beau!
Hey LG! The project is completely open to interpretation. If you’ve checked out the website you can see all the lovely installations people have done. I’m planning on doing more.
OSI, you read my mind… Stay tuned, and hopefully I won’t end up in jail. ๐
“Nothing is sacred. Everything that has a perceived value becomes commodified.”
such a lovely project… ironically christina aguilera’s song by the same name is now playing through my head. ahh make it stop!
Thank you for sharing this! And thank you for promoting this and bringing it out from your homepage! Very nice.
I’m inspired to do something similar. I think I will do spme “You Are Beautiful” photos on my homepage!…
Wellcome to my se my photos and more on my homepage:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/maurice_flower/
Best wishes!