It is a fitting end. The entire project is less about mastering the machine (the Kingpouge/Laika) and more about missing the perfect shot—about the space between the human and the animal.
: This publication is a portrait collection featuring the model known as Laika. Total Photos : 78.
: A precise edit of 78 curated photographs selected to tell a cohesive story. kingpouge laika 12 78 photos photography by hiromi saimon
: Released in 2023, the book was produced by the publisher Kingpouge, which is known for its focus on contemporary Japanese photography and art monographs.
The keyword specifies "Laika 12." This is a crucial detail that shapes the visual outcome of the 78 photos. Hiromi Saimon famously did not use a Leica or a Nikon. He used the , colloquially referred to in Japanese camera circles as the "Laika" (a phonetic play on Leica, acknowledging the copy but respecting the Russian origin). It is a fitting end
The subject of these 78 photos is a singular stray dog—presumably named "Laika" by the artist—observed in the back alleys of Ueno and Asakusa during the winter of 1978.
: Laika stands in front of a dizzying array of mirrors, creating a sense of disorientation and confusion. Saimon's use of reflections and symmetry adds depth and visual interest to this already captivating image. Total Photos : 78
Kingpouge, a specialty publisher dealing in limited-run art portfolios and photography compilations. Artistic Vision and Aesthetic Approach
To understand the artifact, one must break down its title:
This DIY ethos reinforces the content: art as ephemera, not artifact.
Art critics often debate the final image of the set—Photo 78. Saimon’s notes (scribbled on the back of a 7-Eleven receipt, found posthumously in a locker in Shinjuku station) read simply: "The dog looked back. I blinked. The Laika missed the focus. That is the true picture."