This week, more than 150 global leaders are in Paris to discuss the issues of pollution, fossil fuel dependency and rising temperatures. A London-based anti-advertising group called Brandalism, which bills itself as “a revolt against corporate control of the visual realm,” placed more than 600 printed “advertisements” in spaces, such as bus stops, all over the city.
According to Business Insider, the group worked with people in Paris to insert unauthorized printed advertisements across the city to voice their concern over “corporate takeover of the COP21 climate talks.” JC Decaux, the biggest outdoor advertising company in the world, owns many of the advertising spaces that Brandalism took over.
Brandalism indicated in a press release that the printed advertisements are a way of protesting in Paris while adhering to a current ban on public gatherings following the attacks on Nov. 13.
“By sponsoring the climate talks, major polluters, such as Air France and GDF-Suez_Engie, can promote themselves as part of the solution—when actually they are part of the problem,” Joe Elan, a member of Brandalism, said in the release. “We are taking their spaces back because we want to challenge the role advertising plays in promoting unsustainable consumerism.”
Artists from all over the world, including Paul Insect, who frequently collaborates with British street artist Banksy, designed the fake advertisements that parody different companies, such as ExxonMobil and Volkswagen.
