© Henry Leutwyler
Photobastei Postfach 9516 8036 Zürich Suisse
The Photobastei proudly pays homage to Swiss-born, New York-based photographer Henry Leutwyler by showing his two highly acclaimed exhibitions Neverland Lost: A Portrait of Michael Jackson and Ballet: Photographs of the New York City Ballet, the first time they have been shown in Switzerland, or indeed in Europe.
Neverland Lost: A Portrait of Michael Jackson
Henry Leutwyler had only three days to go through thousands of Michael Jackson’s personal artefacts to photograph costumes, pictures, trophies, furniture and everyday objects belonging to the King of Pop – all before the whole lot was auctioned off.
It wasn’t enough time. Leutwyler travelled to Neverland Lost, Jackson’s ranch in California, returning to New York with the artefacts he needed to complete the story.
« It was always my intention to document these objects », explains Leutwyler. « When objects are auctioned, their trace is lost. They go to the highest bidder, and nobody knows where they disappear to. Maybe a safe, maybe somebody’s basement, who knows. »
Michael Jackson never had a proper childhood. It was only when he reached the age of 35 or 40 that he was able to create one for himself. The Neverland Ranch was Jackson’s own fairytale world, his childhood dreams come true: a Luna Park for his yearning for ease and lightheartedness. He wanted to be like Peter Pan, free like a child, not a care in the world, a boy who never grows up.
He created his own homemade idyllic world. Some of his stage costumes were also homemade: his glitter socks – everyone knows them, because you can buy them for 99 cents in the supermarket – and his gloves.
Leutwyler’s photos are more than just simple documents of items at an auction. They give us a profound look behind the facade of glamour, an insight into Jackson’s life among real treasures, kitsch and knick-knacks. He gets so close with his camera that the illusions of showbusiness dissolve to reveal the mundane reality.
« The sad thing about this project », says Leutwyler, « is that his life was so short. Looking at these images is like looking at somebody’s will. It’s a tragic story. Today the photos have quite a different significance than if he were still alive. »
Henry Leutwyler’s photographs are like relics: a search for traces of humanity in a popstar who was idolised like a god.
© Henry Leutwyler
Ballet: Photographs of the New York City Ballet
The New York City Ballet (NYCB) is one of the world’s most famous classical ballet companies, a true cultural icon. Nurtured and cherished by the City of New York and a passionate public, the ensemble has been associated with some of the most important names in ballet history, including George Balanchine. In the last 23 years, Danish former dancer Peter Martins has taken the NYCB from success to success to achieve world renown.
So imagine Henry Leutwyler’s delight when in winter 2012, Martins gave him the unhoped-for opportunity of unrestricted backstage access to the carefully protected world of the ballerina.
Armed with his Leica he ventures behind the scenes and into rehearsal rooms. Captivated by the dancers he captures unguarded moments of banal ordinariness, the crackling silence before the curtains rise, painstaking practice in pointe shoes, and the sublime beauty of performers from new and unexpected angles. Leutwyler gets very close to the dancers, presenting them not as dolls, but as young people with personality, charisma, passion and charm.
« My main aim was to capture beauty. But I don’t believe that beauty is to be found in perfection. Capturing the perfection of a specific dance production is something that’s been done a hundred thousand times already. »
Taken without heavy equipment or a crew of assistants, these artistic shots of rehearsals, changing rooms and ill-treated feet are a wonderful counterpoint to the flawless aesthetic experienced by the audience or projected in advertising.
The exhibition shows the world of ballet from two different perspectives: in the spotlight and in the shadows; the public side and the flipside; illusion and reality, joy and pain.
An enchanting and unique insight into a hidden world.
© Henry Leutwyler
Henry Leutwyler
Born in Switzerland in 1961 and based in New York, Henry Leutwyler is one of the world’s best known photographers. For many years he accompanied the Béjart Ballet with his camera, and for the last five years he has been responsible for all the NYC Ballet’s photo campaigns. He’s also famous for a series of unique, iconic still lifes featuring, among many other things, Jimi Hendrix’s guitars, Michael Jackson’s gloves, the gun that killed assassin Lee Harvey Oswald, and John Lennon’s glasses. He has photographed personalities including Michelle Obama, Cate Blanchett and Martin Scorsese, to name but a few, and received countless prestigious international awards. His work has frequently appeared in titles such as the New York Times, Vanity Fair, Vogue and Time.
Leutwyler lives and works in downtown Manhattan with his wife and two children.
Awards:
ASME 2008 Best Cover of the Year, Graphis 2008 Photographer of the Year, Annabelle Magazine 2008, 10 Best Swiss Photographers, The Art Directors Club of New York, The Society of Publication Designers, American Photography, James Beard Foundation, PDN & D&AD
Photobastei
The Photobastei is a highrise devoted to photography – more than 1,500 square metres of exhibition space for up to 50 simultaneous shows.
The first two floors house major exhibitions featuring well-known photographers. Floors 3 to 7 serve as a platform for contemporary photography featuring shows of varying sizes presented and organised independently by photographers, agencies, foundations and art schools.
The brainchild of Romano Zerbini, the Photobastei isn’t a museum or gallery, project space or auction house, cultural establishment or avant-garde platform – it’s all these things rolled into one: a new, experimental exhibition format.