NON-COLORED
NON-COLORED
– A one year portrait countdown to the new millennium –
At the exact same location (in front of the Virgin Megastore Times Square at 1540 Broadway, between 45th Street and 46th Street), at the exact same time (midnight), is where/when this portrait is born. I ask a random person or group to hold a signboard that I make, which indicates the date and time. I have them pose with the board as they like and tell them to present themselves in their own taste and style. The photographs represent a shared moment between the subject and myself. We are strangers to one another, unaware of each other’s existence, until I ask them to pose for me. My photographs are born out of coincidental meeting representing the people of the world.
The project is a documentation of the people from all over the world who congregate in Times Square. I chose Times Square as my setting for the project because it is a place where the energy of the city is focused. New York City is the leading “international city” of the world. Not only is the permanent population of the city made up of many nationalities and races, but also visitors such as tourists, business people and artists come every day to New York seeking the unique power and appeal the city holds. Instead of the chaos expected in such a situation, I see a strong brotherhood among the people within this web of great complexity. This has always amazed me and is the crucial reason for my love of the city. I feel that NYC sets a great example for the future of our world and serves as evidence that we can live harmoniously with one another despite racial or cultural boundaries.
The year 2000 is a mare passing phase within the infinite flow of time. It may not have an equal amount of importance for everyone all over the world. However, the year 2000 is a turning point that leads our planet into a new century and a new millennium. I believe that most of us are looking forward to a fresh start, a strong new beginning, and a progression towards a better world. My motivation for this project is to share my vision of hope for unconditional acceptance of our differences – culturally religiously and racially. Through this perspective, I see everyone as individuals who are “non-colored”.
NON-COLORED
– A one year portrait countdown to the new millennium –
西暦2000年1月1日午前零時（1999年12月31日深夜）から2000年12月31日午前零時（2000年12月30日深夜）の1年間、ニューヨーク・タイムズスクエアにて、毎晩零時に自分の前を通った人、またはグループに声を掛け撮影した366枚の写真。世界中から街を訪れた人々と撮影者である自分との1年かけたコラボレーション作品であり、共に行ったポートレートで繋ぐ新しい時代へのカウントダウン。
この作品は2000年12月31日の夜、タイムズスクエアで新しいミレニアムへのカウントダウン・セレモニーが行われる中、バージン・メガストア (Virgin Megastore) の協力のもと発表された。
地球や人間社会の未来に向けて、世界中の人々が人種、国籍、宗教、肌の色、社会的立場、生い立ちなどさまざまな違いからの偏見を持たず、互いをただの個人として受け入れ、尊重していければという願いを込めて制作。そのため、1年間、場所と時間だけを固定し、目の前にたまたま通りかかった人やグループにランダムに声を掛け、日時、場所を書いたボードを持ってもらうこと以外は自由にポーズをとってもらい撮影。
ニューヨークは世界中からさまざまな人々が集まり共に生活し、また世界中から観光、ビジネス等を目的に、またアート、音楽、ダンスなどを学びに日々膨大な数の人間が行き来する巨大な国際都市であることから、その中心に位置するタイムズスクエアを撮影場所として選んだ。