Henry Leutwyler »
Neverland Lost - A portrait of Michael Jackson
Exhibition: 23 Nov 2011 – 25 Jan 2012
Henry Leutwyler «Neverland Lost - A portrait of Michael Jackson»
Henry Leutwyler's book «NEVERLAND LOST - A Portrait of Michael Jackson» has been published by Steidl.
Photographer Henry Leutwyler will personally open an exhibition on which will be represented a series of works “Neverland Lost – A portrait of Michael Jackson”. Pictures of personal things and scenic suits of the legendary king of pop music of Michael Jackson have been made on the threshold of sale of property on ranch Neverland in California.
Henry Leutwyler born in Switzerland, traveled all over the world, learning life, culture and wisdom of the different nations. He journeyed through Africa, Asia and the Middle East – ultimately landing in Paris for ten years, where he was inspired and worked. Since 1996 he lives and works in New York, in studio on Manhattan. His works were published in such known international editions, as The New York Times, Vogue and Esquire. His photographs have earned him the ASME 2008 Magazine Cover of the Year award. He has been recognized as the Graphis magazine 2008 Photographer of the Year and was voted among the Top 10 Best Swiss Photographers of 2008 by Annabelle Magazine. Other honors include the highest recognition from The Art Directors Club of New York, The Society of Publication Designers, PDN, D&AD, American Photography and the James Beard Foundation. Henry Leutwyler’s meticulous eye for nuanced detail has revealed the unspoken interiors of such figures as Michelle Obama, Karl Rove, Julia Roberts, Tom Wolfe, Cate Blanchett, Beyonce Knowles, Nathan Lane, Rhianna and Martin Scorsese.
In his works Henry Leutwyler is inclined for philosophical anthropology, investigating people through nuances of their person or subjects surrounding them. He conducts chronology of the modern world through the pictures of personal subjects of the great people mystically accurately telling about life and character of their owners. In a unique collection of the works made by him there are Jimi Hendix’s guitar, Michael Jackson’s white glove, Andy Warhol’s paintbrush, the pistol that killed Lee Harvey Oswald, Alfred Hitchcock’s passport, the glasses of John Lennon and the harmonica of Bob Dylan.
In 2009 Henry Leutwyler has gone to Michael Jackson's primary home to make a photo for one well-known magazine its legendary white glove. « The house at Neverland had been vacant for several years till the time of my arrival. When I have opened boxes with his belongs which were expecting auction, it evoked in me a deep sadness. Accessories of the king of pop music were very simple. On sparkling shirts and gold jackets – sweat and cosmetics traces».
Henry Leutwyler documents the material world of the person who has risen on inaccessible top of a musical Olympus and has appeared absolutely isolated from his family and friends; the world of the person, believed that he is the fantastic character. For the first time to the audience will be afforded an opportunity to see another side of grandiose shows and videoclips with million budgets. Destroying the media myth, Leutwyler creates a portrait of the person. «I have returned to New York with completely ready material, which only needed to be combined in one story. It was the story of the childhood sacrificed to musical gift and show. Neverland was a path which Jackson laid to the childhood».