Alexandra Leese and the Women of the Moon

21 augustus 2024

Photo Books

Alexandra Leese’s work draws inspiration from human complexities. Her work involves a deep examination of concepts such as beauty, gender, and the female perspective. Born and raised in Hong Kong, Leese came to the United Kingdom with her sister for school, at 11 years old. Following her graduation, she began admission to Chelsea College of Art for a fine art degree. Her aim was to pursue a career as a portrait painter. Leese never considered photography as a form of visionary expression. She only used the camera to take pictures of people for paintings. Her friend noticed her talent for photography and suggested she try using a better camera to experiment. After discovering her passion for photography, Leese began studying fashion photography at the London College of Fashion.

Fig 1. © Alexandra Leese

Fig 2. © Alexandra Leese

Beauty of Diversity

Leese’s regular visits to Hong Kong serve as a testament to her strong connection and pride in her mixed British and Chinese background. According to her, the way someone is raised has a deep impact on their perception of the world and their communication skills. Leese’s book, titled Boys of Hong Kong, features a collection of intimate photographs that aim to challenge prevailing stereotypes of Asian masculinity and celebrate the beauty of diversity. She self-published Yumi and The Moon, an abstract photo translation of the Japanese folklore of Kaguya Hime in 2019. In 2020, she released her most recent book, Me+Mine. It captures women’s self-expression through their bodies while in quarantine. Leese has collaborated with brands such as Calvin Klein and Marc Jacobs. She has directed video projects with photographer Luke Casey that include Singer songwriter Beabadoobee. At the moment, Leese’s place of residence is in London.

Fig 3. © Alexandra Leese

Fig 4. © Alexandra Leese

Yumi and the Moon

In 2019, Alexandra Leese published her softcover zine called Yumi and the Moon. The project idea came from Monogatari, a Japanese work of fiction from a 9th-century prose narrative known as The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, the origin of all tales. The plot revolves around Kaguya-Hime, a girl sent from the moon to the earth. Prosperity befalls an impoverished couple upon discovering a girl in a glowing bamboo stalk. Readers can interpret the story in multiple ways. The general viewpoint explains the interconnection of social status, freedom, and human relationships defined by commerce. Leese’s insight into figurative photography comes from analyzing the figure’s arrangement within a still life. Yumi Carter’s self-control is crucial for revealing Leese’s nonverbal interpretation.

Fig 5. © Alexandra Leese

Fig 6. © Alexandra Leese

In Premium you can find out more on Leese's collaboration with the model Yumi, her book Me + Mine, and numerous additional nudes.

Alexandra Leese is active on Instagram

Click HERE for the edgy Playboy-style nudes in Lisa Boyle's photos

Let us know what you think about Leese's photography in the comment box below!