2024-11-05T01:50:08-05:00 https://archinect.com/news/article/149961516/in-honor-of-the-olympics-french-artist-jr-installs-giant-athletes-in-rio Amelia Taylor-Hochberg 2016-08-04T13:16:00-04:00 >2016-08-10T00:02:48-04:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/oq/oqip9s51k49f6qdj.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><p>The French artist who goes by JR, known for <a href="http://archinect.com/news/tag/753838/jr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">flyposting large-scale photographs</a> in cities around the world, has set up shop in Rio, just in time for the Olympic opening ceremony this Friday. As part of his ongoing worldwide&nbsp;<a href="http://www.insideoutproject.net/rio2016/en/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><em>Inside Out</em></a>&nbsp;project, and under the invitation of the IOC, he's installed two giant sculptures of athletes in the city, posed in such a way that Rio itself is their stadium.</p><p>One is a diver, in a swan pose over the Barra da Tijuca, the other a high-jumper, curving over the top of the Hilton Santos in the Flamengo neighborhood. The athletes are made from printed fabric stretched over a scaffolding frame, and have been under construction since June.</p><p><em>h/t&nbsp;<a href="http://thespaces.com/2016/08/03/jr-installs-two-giant-athletes-in-sites-across-rio-for-the-olympics/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Spaces</a></em></p><p><img title="" alt="" src="http://cdn.archinect.net/images/514x/53/531mp5wus332492y.jpg"></p><p>Check out more news from Rio:</p><ul><li><a title="Rio's streets clog with traffic as visitors arrive for the Olympics" href="http://archinect.com/news/article/149961137/rio-s-streets-clog-with-traffic-as-visitors-arrive-for-the-olympics" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rio's streets clog with traffic as visitors arrive for the Olympics</a></li><li><a title="Athletes refuse to move into Rio's Olympic Village, citing &ldquo;blocked toilets, leaking pipes and exposed wiring&rdquo;" href="http://archinect.com/news/article/149959805/athletes-refuse-to-move-into-rio-s-olympic-village-citing-blocked-toilets-leaking-pipes-and-exposed-wiring" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Athletes refuse to move into Rio's Olympic Village, citing &ldquo;blocked toilets, leaking pipes and exposed wiring&rdquo;</a></li><li><a title="Rio mayor admits Olympics were a &ldquo;missed opportunity&rdquo;, but believes the city has been unfairly portrayed" href="http://archinect.com/news/article/149957955/rio-mayor-admits-olympics-were-a-missed-opportunity-but-believes-the-city-has-been-unfairly-portrayed" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rio mayor admits Olympics were a &ldquo;missed opportunity&rdquo;, but believes the city has been unfairly portrayed</a></li><li><a title="11 workers have died so far during Rio Olympic construction, audit finds" href="http://archinect.com/news/article/149942337/11-workers-have-died-so-far-during-rio-olympic-construction-audit-finds" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">11 ...</a></li></ul>