We

Published by PARTNERS STUDIO, which produces publications under the theme of Partnership, "We" is a photobook featuring Canadian photographer Mark Peckmezian, Moldovan photographer Olya Oleinic, and six elementary school pupils living in Saitama City, each capturing the lives of people in the city.

For about a week, Peckmezian approached passersby near the exits of Ōmiya Station in Saitama City and photographed them on the spot in a fashion street-snap style. This approach is consistent with the method he employed in his 2021 photobook NICE, published by Roma Publications.

Oleinic, meanwhile, followed the organic flow of human relationships, visiting personal spaces such as homes and offices while travelling around the city by bicycle. Originally planning to stay for about ten days, she ultimately spent two weeks conducting intensive research and photography without much rest.

In addition, six fourth-grade pupils from Saitama University Elementary School participated as photographers under the theme of “family portrait.” Editor Takuto Kawashima and Asuka Kojin and Kenji Minamikawa from [me] visited the school to give a special lesson on "What is portrait photography?". Each student then engaged in dialogue about family photography and proceeded to create their own portraits.

The resulting series, titled Portrait Project, was exhibited at the Saitama Triennale 2023, where it was displayed within a 2×2 metre frame and rotated daily throughout the 65-day exhibition period. The book's art direction was overseen by Hans Gremmen of Fw: Books.

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Title: We
Artist: Mark Peckmezian, Olya Oleinic, Pupils of Saitama University Elementary School
Publisher: PARTNERS STUDIO, 2025
Editor: Takuto Kawashima (partners magazine / kontakt)
Art Director: Hans Gremmen, Yoshihisa Tanaka (centre inc.)
Contributors: Meruro Washida (Director, Towada Art Center), Takashi Serizawa (Producer, Saitama Triennale 2023), Chris Kozwolski Moore (Writer), Rei Sakai (Creative Director), Kazuko Yasui (Art Coordinator), Kenji Minamikawa (Director, [me])
Format: Softcover
Size: 161 × 220 mm
Pages: 328
Edition: Limited edition of 1,000 copies
ISBN: 978-1-0684257-0-7
Price: ¥4,400