A limited edition of 700 copies.
Printed and bound in Hokkaido, Japan
I Give You Power takes its title from a deliberate echo of “I Gave You Power”, the iconic 1996 track by Nas — an allegorical narrative of urban street life told from the perspective of a gun. The reference is both homage and conceptual foundation, reflecting the cultural influence of the song on the project.
Reserved by nature, the author describes the camera as a means of access — a passport into environments that might otherwise have remained out of reach. It becomes a tool of connection, enabling encounters with individuals who, over time, granted an intimate openness to their lives. In this sense, photography is framed not only as observation, but as an exchange built on trust.
This approach situates the work within a broader photographic tradition shaped by figures such as Jim Goldberg, Larry Clark, Diane Arbus, Arlene Gottfried, and Nan Goldin — practitioners known for their engagement with marginal or overlooked communities.
Conceived as the first chapter of an urban trilogy, I Give You Power lays the groundwork for two future volumes. While distinct in form, they will continue to explore the complexities of life in the urban landscape.
Rulx Thork
From the publisher’s website