Harley Weir photographs Senegal in ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ magazine editorial “Fluxus”

Image of a child with one arm out the window of a pink car, with a stamp stuck to their lips.

“Fluxus,” Boys Don’t Cry, p. 328.

Frank Ocean’s Boys Don’t Cry magazine features a photographic series by London-based photographer Harley Weir that captures the people of Dakar, Senegal, located in West Africa. The models reenact quotes from various artists, poems, and performance art projects, including Michael E. Smith (2012), Instruction (2002) by Joan Jonas, Project for Poems (1983) by Joan Brossa, Instruction (2001) by Andreas Slominski, and Untitled (1995) by Erwin Wurn. Weir shot the images in 2015 under Ocean’s creative direction. The article’s title, “Fluxus,” is Latin for “flow” and inspired by the 1960s and ‘70s art movement of the same name.

Photography, magazine scans, outtakes, behind-the-scenes content, and a transcript of “Fluxus” are all available below.

Photography & Scans:

Select a photo above or below to view it fullscreen.

Outtakes:

Behind the Scenes:

Image of Harley Weir taking a photo of a Senegalese man with a stick and Frank Ocean. An oil refinery is visible in the background.

Behind the scenes, feat. Harley Weir & Frank Ocean, 2015.

Image of two Senegalese men and Frank Ocean.

Behind the scenes, feat. Frank Ocean, 2015.

Transcript:

“Ryhtm: Cradle a melon in one arm. Gently bore a hole in the melon with the blunt end of a toothbrush…”
—Smith, Michael E. (2012).

“Dance with a large piece of chalk. Mark up the nearest surface and pay attention to the movement of your feet. Music optional.”
—Jonas, Joan. Instruction (2002).

“Launch a rocket, draw an eye on one’s belly button, and destroy a cage.”
—Brossa, Joan. Project for Poems (1983).

“With a stamp stuck to one’s lips, put head in a sack and count to 100.”
—Brossa, Joan. Project for Poems (1983).

“Recite poems with a pair of glasses inside one’s mouth.”
—Brossa, Joan. Project for Poems (1983).

“Tip a bicycle seat so that the front points upwards, and use the seat to squeeze lemons.”
—Slominski, Andreas. Instruction (2001).

“Put on a pullover—but don’t stick arms or head through the normal openings—squat down and pull the end of the pullover down over your knees and feet. In this position, endure for 20 seconds.”
—Wurm, Erwin. Untitled (1995).

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