Junji Tanigawa | New Series, Part 1: "Power People by Leslie Kee"

Vol. 1: "Power People by Leslie Kee"

Hurried crowds. The cacophony of yellow cabs. Steam billowing upwards. Fashion, culture, entertainment. New York City, a place that continues to captivate so many as a hub of the times. And within this city, there are people who generate its potential and continue to shape the era. These are the "Power People."—Photographer Leslie Kee calls them this, and he has captured them in his work. A photography exhibition, bringing together his works for the first time, was held from February 16th to 27th at Seibu Shibuya. I want to share the mood I felt through the spatial composition of that exhibition here.

Text by TANIGAWA JunjiPhotographs by JAMANDFIX

My first collaboration with Leslie was in 2006 for a photo exhibition called "Super Stars" held at Omotesando Hills. This exhibition, with the sub-theme "ASIA IS ONE," was a commemorative exhibition for the publication of a photo book produced as a charity for the Sumatra earthquake, and I designed the space. I still remember our conversation when we first met. "I've wanted to meet you, it's so good to finally meet you." It was a sense of déjà vu, as if I had known him for a long time. That strange comfort, combined with his friendly smile and rapid-fire talk, led to the exhibition taking shape with a whirlwind of energy.

Then, in 2012, I received a call one day. "Hi, Space Composer, how are you?" It was Leslie. "I'm having a photo exhibition at Seibu Shibuya. I'm making a photo book for it. Will you design the venue?" I recall the conversation being something like that. Seibu, Leslie, and New York. He was going to create a photo book. He wanted to display those photographs. The Leslie Kee photo exhibition, titled "POWER PEOPLE @ New York," was to be held throughout the entire Seibu Shibuya store. The subjects were professionals from various fields active in New York.

The genres were diverse, ranging from stylists, photographers, models, dancers, singers, and designers to bloggers and pastry chefs, totaling 15 groups. These photographs featured individuals who would normally not be in the spotlight. How to spatialise the collaboration between their positive energy, constantly pushing the boundaries, and Leslie's sensibility? My first impression when Leslie showed me the stills was surprisingly, "Who is this person?" Yes, I didn't know most of the subjects. Leslie then explained the profile of each person to me. He passionately spoke about their remarkable work and their captivating personalities. He told me, with a deeply human perspective, how fulfilling and rich the collaborations were during the shoots.

The inner lives of these beloved individuals, spun in Leslie's signature simple words. Works that capture the contrast between stillness and motion. His request to spatialise this in a new form led to the idea of an "experiential exhibition." A participatory exhibition where you could not only see but also hear and be photographed. An immersive experience, as if stepping into the world of the photo book. The department store space felt like a vacuum tube amplifier, amplifying energy. Power People, glimpsed here and there along the in-store route from the windows to the venue. Communication graphics, coloured with the contrast of monochrome stills and vibrant American comic-like aesthetics. Graphic designer Tetsuya Chihara brought this graphic world, reminiscent of 80s Pop Art, to life.

Visual Direction YU MARUNO (GLMV)
Sound Direction TAKEO YATABE (HiGH CONCEPT)

The theme for the exhibition's spatial design was "Photo Studio." I aimed for extreme simplicity, using actual photography equipment as display materials. By eliminating any unnecessary constructions, I wanted the figures to stand out. It felt like wandering into Leslie's studio. Like Hansel and Gretel lost in the woods, following breadcrumbs and stumbling upon a gingerbread house, guided by Leslie's memories. This feeling kept surfacing. For the sound, we recorded audio in Leslie's studio and sampled it for playback in the venue. Anyone who has experienced being present at a photo shoot will understand that feeling of peeking at the models' expressions from behind the photographer, standing before the cyclorama, and taking a shot with your own imaginary viewfinder. I wanted to bring the entire space closer to the actual scene of Leslie's photo shoots. Gradually, the spatial composition began to take shape.

Junji Tanigawa | Power People by Leslie Kee 05

Finally, we added Leslie himself. We played an interview video of Leslie on an iPad. Fifteen iPads for the 15 groups of subjects. Leslie's love dedicated to each of the 15 groups. Leslie spoke continuously for two hours with a serious gaze, without a moment's rest. This video, filmed in an office on a Saturday afternoon, was warm and fresh, breathing life into the tangible medium of photographs that captured a moment in time. This is how the Seibu Shibuya space was born and welcomed people.

We wanted visitors to participate too. With that in mind, we created a corner in the venue: "Power People Studio @ Seibu Shibuya." We developed a program that would allow anyone to participate in this photo session, to engrave their participation in this exhibition as a memory. This program, a Photo Generator linked to Facebook, akin to "adult Purikura" (photo stickers), was developed by teamLab. Photos taken at the venue were immediately uploaded and compiled into an album on Leslie's Facebook fan page. With the message "Become a Power Person too," everyone's smiles instantly swept across the globe. From bystanders to participants. The social media era breaks down traditional barriers, inviting everyone who visits into a free and open world.

Initially hesitant, visitors' poses transformed completely after a few days. Their poses became more refined with each passing day. The increasing quality of the photos vividly showed that everyone was connected. This project seemed to teach me that beyond Leslie's simple act of "taking a photograph," the resulting changes in people's feelings and the connections formed are what truly inspire us to face tomorrow with a positive outlook.