Giant Portrait By Jorge Rodriguez Gerada

The Identity Series began in Spain in 2002. Gigantic charcoal portraits of anonymous people that scale the walls of buildings in different cities. These drawings question the controls imposed on public space, the role models that represent us and the type of events that are guarded by the collective memory. The blending of the charcoal and the wall surface with the wind, rain or the sudden destruction of the wall is ultimately the most important part of the process. The intent is to have identity, place and memory become one.
“My idea is to show that we should all be seen with dignity. I believe that our identity should come from within not from the brands that we wear. We should question who chooses our cultural icons and role models, our values and aesthetics. We are living in a time were corporate manipulation has become very refined and effective. “Terrorist” manipulation has at its base the premise of the individual being considered dispensable in order to change the thinking of the larger group. By giving importance to one anonymous life I want to give importance to empathy.” The charcoal medium, in this case is chosen specifically as a metaphor for how ephemeral and fragil identity can be. After days of labor the charcoal fades with the weather, slowly returning the site to its original state. The Icon fades in the elements leaving only a memory.