Don’t view this as endorsement of kids smoking, tobacco or any of that shiznit. But these photos will make you look twice, guarenteed. Regardless of if it’s social, political or commercial, or otherwise, it’s very effective art. This is smart, powerful, horrible.
This photo series “The Beauty of an Ugly Addiction” is Photographer Frieke Janssens’ response to nicotine addiction and new smoking laws. She asks, “does this ban treat adults like children who can’t willfully decide whether or not to partake in this horribly harmful habit? What is it about smoking, aside from the obvious addictive content, that draws people in? Is it its image from film noir? Is it the appeal of its performative consumption, that mannerism or pose that seems to imbue a smoker with a particular sort of character?”
Can’t argue that you’ll stop and look. Tell me what you think in the comments. Then check out this sort of surreal behind the scenes video is here:
[via flavorpill, neatorama]
Does not speak to me other than to say kids should not smoke. Seems to me there is a better way for her to get her point across.
Those are not 2 year olds… a 2-year-old would never stand the way you want them to!
Crazy shit dawg.. No but seriously, it does really make you look twice and I think this is what hits people and make them think about these issues.
It looks more like a second hand smoke statement to me, or a statement about how childish adults are trying to use smoking to look sophisticated, or even a statement about how children mimic adults, bad habits and all.
Like others here, I’m not sure what the message is in these photos. They are arresting, to be sure, but is shock the only desired effect? Do they promote childhood smoking, do they repudiate it, or are they attempting to take what is obviously a real problem in some countries and make an artistic rendition of it? They’re clever, to be sure, but I guess I’m struggling to see the point/the message.