Roy Kiyooka

Untitled

Roy Kiyooka’s Untitled is a black and white photo-collage of a nude person, seated in a chair cross-legged, holding a white mask in front of their face. To their left is a television with a collaged color image of a person holding the same mask to their face. Characteristic of Kiyooka’s nuanced approach to photo-collage, this work is marked by a stark composition that emphasizes the interplay of light and shadow. The photograph’s simplicity belies its complexity, as Kiyooka masterfully captures the textures and contours of the subject matter, drawing attention to the subtleties of form and the atmosphere it evokes. The absence of any overt narrative or context invites viewers to focus on the visual elements themselves—lines, shapes, and the gradations of tone that lend the image its depth and presence. Kiyooka’s work often explores the boundaries between the literal and the abstract, and this work exemplifies this by transforming everyday objects and scenes into meditative studies of form and perception. The photograph stands as a testament to Kiyooka’s ability to find beauty and meaning in simplicity, engaging viewers in a quiet, contemplative experience.