SHOWstudio present an exclusive behind the scenes film of Harri Peccinotti at work photographing the extraordinary exhibits in 'White Dunk: Evolution of an Icon', a Palais de Tokyo hosted exhibition of specially commissioned work by 25 Japanese artists, launched during this year's Paris Fashion Week. The artists include animators, illustrators, toy-makers, graphic designers, model-makers, and comic writers. Each were given the brief to respond to a fashion classic, the Nike 'Dunk' basketball trainer (in white). In American basketball towards the end of the 1970s a technique had emerged on the court popularly known as a 'slam dunk' - a spectacle of athleticism and showmanship. Trainer manufacturers and megabrand Nike began designing sports shoes they hoped would become synonymous with this phenomenon. Inspired by their already successful 'Air Jordan' and 'Air Force', Nike debuted the 'Dunk' in 1985. The Palais de Tokyo exhibition caught the imagination of fashion editor Susy Menkes who noted in her show report: 'Of all the many shoe presentations, nothing could quite beat Nike's exhibition of art installations by 25 Japanese creative talents challenged to use the iconic all-white Dunk sneaker as inspiration... that was proof that sneakers are now part of fashion's religion.' (IHT, 11/10/03). In this film and image project Peccinotti sets about shooting these artworks on dark backgrounds (in opposition to the white of the gallery walls) to bring a new contrast and animation to the myriad interpretations.

Yasuhito Udagawa
Let's Dunk
Yasuhito Udagawa creates objects primarily for use in publications and adverts. The idea for his work came from seeking out an American interpretation of the word 'dunk', meaning to dunk a donut in coffee.

Katsuya Terada
Untitled
Katsuya Terada works in animation, comics, illustration, film and clothing design. He is renowned for his strong fantasy vision.

Takayuki Takeya
Farmer
A master in modeling, Takayuki Takeya has worked as a model maker on many live-action movies such as 'Zeiram', 'Future Ninja', and 'True Kamen Rider.

Hajime Sorayama
Nike Goddess
Hajime Sorayama has been a practising illustrator since 1972, creating erotic art in many medium, from 3-D 'robots' to illustrated pin-ups. Renowned for his 'hyper illustrated' style of erotic art, he is credited with conceptual originality.
Production Assistance: Kouichi Yonezu

Yasushi Nirasawa
Vampire UV
An artist and character designer, Yasushi Nirasawa is part of a new wave of Japanese 'Manga' enthusiasts. He designed creatures for the animated film 'Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within'. He aimed to create a responsive work suggestive of a vampiric character.

Kenji Ando
Path to the Sky
Kenji Ando makes transparent figurines, often creating them for game characters such as 'Final Fantasy'. His 'White Dunk' character resonates with a fairy-like inspiration.

Masakazu Katsura
Double Dunk
Masakazu Katsura's is a comic writer. His publications include ' Video Girl Ai', 'Shadow', 'Lady Zetman' and 'Woman in the Man'. His first published work, 'Yume Senshi Wingman' in 1983 introduced a lasting theme for his practise - superheroism. He continues to explore its tragic limits.
Production Assistance Hiroki Hayashi and Pooyan Toys.

Eisaku Kito
Diva
Eisaku Kito is a renowned model-maker, creating figurative art for movies such as 'Zeiram'. He has collaborated with Takashi Murakami on a figure project. His response also highlights an angelic quality, inspired by the purity of whiteness.

Yukio Fujioka
Untitled
Yukio Fujioka is one of Japan's great figurative artists. He has created figures for the computer game 'Final Fantasy', and recently released 'Demons Chronicle'. His design recognised that shoes come in a pair, and made a twin piece.

Jun Goshima
Original Piece
Jun Goshima is a figure artist who makes prototypes for confectionery giveaway toys and commercial toys. He has also made figures for 'Pokemon' and is a regular contributor to 'Hobby Japan' magazine. His idea suggests that mankind started making shoes in response to excavating a shoe-bone.

Atsushi Kamijyo
My White Dunk
Atsushi Kamijyo is one of most revered comic writers in Japan. He uses sharp contrasts of black and white. He has written the comics 'SEX', 'To-Y', and 'Black and White'. He has also designed characters for 'TVCM', 'Sharp' and 'Shiseido'. His piece is about two girls who both need shoes: one girl is desperate, the other is not.

Hideaki Hirata
Vehicle for Buddha
Renowned modeler Hideaki Hirata creates the frames for the 'KUBRICK' series. In 1998, he established 'Mastered Models', and he regularly writes for industry publications. His work is about American superstars encountering foreign culture with humility'.

Haruo Suekichi
Dunk Move
Haruo Suekichi is a watch designer. His respose was inspired by the natural jumping powers of a frog.

Yuji Oniki
Untitled
In 1993, Yuji Oniki made his debut in the Japanes figure-art world. He has a great faculty for expression, especially for the beauty and mass of his humans and monsters.

Shuji Yonezawa
Untitled
Shuji Yonezawa designs hero characters for 'Try Hearts', 'Dashman' and Wonder V'.
Production assistance Hideaki Yoda

Hitoshi Yoneda
Untitled
Hitoshi Yoneda is a fantasy illustrator, particularly revered for his dragon imagery.
Production Assistance Liquid Stone

Naoki Sato
White Dunk EX
Naoki Sato is an artist and columnist for the model magazine 'Hobby Japan' on the art of figurative model making. He took inspiration from triangular space crafts in the original Star Wars film for his design.

Keiichi Sato
Nikeman
Keiichi Sato is an established animator who has pioneered many 'hero' based animations for children as well as working in game design and concert set design. He is inspired by the technology involved in shoe design.
Production Assistance Kaibutsuya

Yukihiro Suzuki
Untitled
Yukihiro Suzuki is a figurative artist who applies a fairy-tale style to creating human and animal robots. He is currently working on a picture book for children. His work explores the relationship between the shoemaker and the customer.

Kow Yokoyama
Untitled
Kow Yokoyama is a talented illustrator who designs 'TVCM' characters and creates stage art. He is also active in the figurative art field with a series he calls 'MAK'. In this work he wanted to express a simple daydream type world.
Production Assistance Pooyan Toys

Junichi Taniguchi
My Double Dunk
Junichi Taniguchi is a toy model creator, specializing in Japanese 'Classic Hobgoblins'. His work references good luck charms that look like rakes - a symbol for an affluent harvest.

Shinichi Yamashita
Untitled
Shinichi Yamashita is a figure maker whose piece is about Japanese anime and comics which promotes the Japanese comic tendency to foreground ordinary girls becoming strong, rather than a more male macho American comic tendency.

Yoshikazu Yasuhiko
Untitled
Yoshikazu Yasuhiko has worked in animation for many projects, including 'Mushi-pro' and created comics like 'Yamato Spaceship', 'Gundam' and 'Namuji'.
Suit Gundam © Sotsu Agency … Sunrise

Eiji Nakayama
Eva with Black Wings
Eiji Nakayama is a young figure artist whose work references history and fantasy.

Project credits
Photography: Harri Peccinotti at Katy Barker Agency
Creative Direction: Giorgio de Mitri
Cinematography: Filippo Chiesa and Elisa
Local Production: Laury Benloulou and Said Belhamra
Mould Making: José Carillo
Video Editing: Paolo Freschi
Photographic Assistance: Enrico Moretti
Soundtrack: HIFANA
Harri Peccinotti Portrait: Thierry Ledé

Thanks: NIKE, the 25 contributing artists, Karla Otto and Karen Maher at Karla Otto, Catherine at Katy Barker Agency.

Artist Profiles
Harri Peccinotti
Harri Peccinotti is revered as a photographer, but has been an industry 'multi-tasker' since he began his professional career during the 1950s as a commercial artist and musician. [More...]