Artist Mark Jenkins Put Realistic Mannequins In Strange Positions Across Different Cities To Grab People’s Attention

American street artist Mark Jenkins creates sculptural art installations and his creations are something you’ve never seen before. Just like most contemporary street artists, Jenkins makes use of the street as his stage where he installs his artworks. As you might have already known, street art installations are intended to draw the attention of the public. Over the years, street art has proceeded beyond graffiti, mural, and pavement painting. Today, several street artists are cleverly using unconventional mediums such as pixel arts and even dirty cars to exhibit their artistic skills. Jenkins, in particular, makes realistic mannequins by using tape as a casting medium. We’ve seen lots of regular mannequins in malls and department stores that are posed in hilarious positions. But Jenkins’ sculptures are rather more shocking than comical.

mark jenkins realistic mannequins tunnel guy besanson france
Besançon, France

The Washington DC-based artist began making sculptures out of tapes while he was living in Rio de Janeiro in 2003. By wrapping the tape in reverse and resealing it, he can craft casts of figures and objects. He started installing his tape sculptures on the streets of Rio de Janeiro and he was amused by the reactions of the passersby. When he returned to Washington DC in 2004, he collaborated with other street artists to pursue what he started in Brazil. Since then, Jenkins has completed numerous projects in many different cities all over the world.

mark jenkins realistic mannequins guy head wall washington dc
Washington DC

Realistic mannequins in disturbing positions popping up in random places are indeed hard to ignore. One look at Jenkins’ sculptures and you’ll certainly do a double take. Due to their grim appearance and position, his art installations often create confusion causing some people to call the police. But Jenkins explains that his art never intends to scare the public. Rather, these realistic mannequins are depictions of marginalized individuals who are striving to survive.

“For example, the guy in the river is holding a bunch of colored balloons that are almost trying to magically lift him out. There’s always an undercurrent of hope,” Jenkins explains.

mark jenkins realistic mannequins river guy balloons malmo sweden
Malmo, Sweden

Jenkins documented the broad spectrum of his unusual art installations on his 2012 book The Urban Theater. The book includes photos of Jenkins’ art installations in different urban spaces. Additionally, it features viewer’s spontaneous reactions with his confusing artworks.

mark jenkins realistic mannequins calm london
London

“I like getting people to question their surroundings, what is real and what isn’t. These days, people are so buried in their mobile phones and I just wanted to get them to look up,” he adds.

Here are photos of Mark Jenkins’ street art installations in the form of realistic mannequins in urban spaces

mark jenkins realistic mannequins four legs lodz poland
Lodz, Poland

 

mark jenkins realistic mannequins hanging wall washington dc
Washington DC

 

mark jenkins realistic mannequins conehead man rio de janeiro
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

 

mark jenkins realistic mannequins billboard girl winston-salem
Winston-Salem, North Carolina

 

mark jenkins realistic mannequins plastic people rome italy
Rome, Italy

 

mark jenkins realistic mannequins fountain guy montreal canada
Montreal, Canada

 

mark jenkins realistic mannequins guy hiding newspaper stand washington dc
Washington DC

 

mark jenkins realistic mannequins fountain diver bordeaux france
Bordeaux, France

 

mark jenkins realistic mannequins trash bin girl barcelona spain
Barcelona, Spain

 

mark jenkins realistic mannequins three guys meeting san sebastian spain
San Sebastian, Spain

 

mark jenkins realistic mannequins stomach hole lodz poland
Lodz, Poland

 

mark jenkins realistic mannequins pipe legs moscow russia
Moscow, Russia

 

mark jenkins realistic mannequins newspaper guy seoul south korea
Seoul, South Korea

 

mark jenkins realistic mannequins green men winston-salem
Winston-Salem, North Carolina

 

mark jenkins realistic mannequins girl foot balance dublin ireland
Dublin, Ireland

 

mark jenkins realistic mannequins man bended knee rome italy
Rome, Italy

 

mark jenkins realistic mannequins hanging man besanson france
Besançon, France

 

mark jenkins realistic mannequins half horse human barcelona spain
Barcelona, Spain

 

mark jenkins realistic mannequins white painter tudela spain
Tudela, Spain

 

mark jenkins realistic mannequins garbage finder prato italy
Prato, Italy

 

mark jenkins realistic mannequins lady bent down forwards royan france
Royan, France

 

mark jenkins realistic mannequins corner guy malmo sweden
Malmo, Sweden

 

mark jenkins realistic mannequins twin blonde canarias spain
Canarias, Spain

 

mark jenkins realistic mannequins floating head london
London

 

mark jenkins realistic mannequins upside down man washington dc
Washington DC

 

mark jenkins realistic mannequins stop sign royan france
Royan, France

 

mark jenkins realistic mannequins garbage bag london
London

 

mark jenkins realistic mannequins blacony guys cologne germany
Cologne, Germany

Source: Mark Jenkins | Instagram