Rhapsody and Ritual” is the evolution of Mr. Yamaoka’s work, building on the theme he established in his previous exhibition, “Monumental Fantasies,” of landscapes graced by the presence of a beautiful “goddess” figure. In this new series, the women themselves takes on aspects of the settings in which they appear—from a possibly-haunted forest or the stone bulwarks of a samurai edifice in ancient Japan, to moonrise in Red Square, Moscow, to a cascading waterfall in the fjords of Norway, to the rain-washed streets of London, to the canyons of Manhattan’s financial district—the women are perfectly at home in their splendid solitude. Their beautiful forms in stark isolation heighten the impact of these haunting images, and evoke musical comparisons. Expanding his new direction, which includes nude and partially draped figures, Mr. Yamaoka continues to explore his signature theme of the ravages of time and the timeless, adding a different, more sensual, visual element. Whether in brilliant pops of color, dramatically contrasting tones, or almost monochromatic hues, the new images reflect the many moods of very self-possessed females in settings of history and fantasy.
