A short history of Kyoto
Captured over several months at various locations in Kyoto, Tomas Svab’s eightpage ‘scroll’ for the cover of KJ 70, Kyoto Lives, is a collage that presents of the city’s urban landscape, including centuries-old Buddhist temples to convenience stores and contemporary art installations. Made from hundreds of photographs, the composition juxtaposes various elements that define Kyoto’s unique and rich character, and highlights the architectural diversity of a city both deeply rooted in history and fully engaged with the present. Each building in the collage is composed of between 12 and 20 photographs, layering multiple perspectives and moments in time. Without a singular photographic viewpoint, sidewalks for instance, converge at different points on the horizon. Unlike a straight photograph, the collage fragments and reassembles perspectives, creating an effect closer to that of a painting.
JA