Miyuki Okuyama
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‘Safe Playground’
Pinhole photographs

With the series ‘Safe Playground’, Miuyki Okuyama is attempting to create virtual marginal areas in the image, that trigger ambiguous sensations in a viewer’s mind.
The obscure and somewhat enigmatic images are taken with pinhole and toy camera’s. The photographed subjects, both anonymous landscape and insignificant objects, appear as if they are shot almost instinctively. These primitive tools create an effect of distortion. The wide-angle pinhole camera pushes the subject away in the image. It evokes such feelings as long-discarded fear or anxiety as well as nostalgia. The photographed models may be banal objects, yet, from their slightly macabre, ominous atmosphere, the viewer perceives strange conversance and comfort.

Contrary to the generally accepted purpose of photography that is to represent the reality of here and now, Miyuki’s usage of photographic images is to reflect the inmost, subjective reality, rather than the outer, objective one.  She tries to create an empathy space between the image and the viewer, sharing faint feelings recalled from somewhere remote.




Education

  • M.A., Studio art, The University of Alabama (2000-2002)
  • B.A., Studio art, The University of Alabama (1996-1999)
  • Associate degree, English, Shokei Womens College (1991-1993)

Solo Exhibition

  • “Vestiges,” Plaats Maken, Arnhem, the Netherlands (Mar-Apr 2005)
  • “At Home,” Evans Memorial Library, Aberdeen, Mississippi (Apr-May 2002)
  • “At Home,” Master of Arts, Thesis exhibition, Sarah Moody Gallery of Art, The University of Alabama   (Mar-Apr 2002)

Group Exhibiton

  • Noorderlicht Fotofestival, Kunsthuis de Permanente, Groningen (Sept 2005)
  • “Photos a corps varies,” Galerie White Elephant, Paris (Nov 2004)
  • “Gekko III,” Galerie Grand Paris, Paris (Nov 2003)
  • Untitled, Ignition Gallery, Northport, Alabama (May 2002)
  • “Split,” The University of Miami, Miami, Florida (Dec 2001)
  • “Confluence,” ASL Gallery, The University of Alabama (Feb-Mar 2001)
  • “Ripe on a Vine,” Vulcan Gallery, School of Fine Art, Birmingham, Alabama (Jan-Feb 2000)