LIVING ROOM/QUIET AS ITS KEPT/QUIET AS ITS KEPT/LIVING ROOM
Producer Tobi Kyeremateng
Director of Photography Adenike Oke
Client Deborah-Joyce Holman
Project type Production design
Project Overview
For Living Room, Deborah Joyce Holman’s largest solo exhibition to date, I collaborated on the production design to support the artist’s focus on the "anti-spectacular." This project required a nuanced approach to staging, capturing moments of stillness and simplicity that echo Holman’s exploration of the mundane and non-performance within Black and queer visual culture.
Film stills courtesy of the artist
Art Direction
Guided by Deborah's vision, I took inspiration from Solange’s LA loft, creating a structured living space that balances warmth with a clinical precision. Furnished to resemble a home, the setting feels meticulously arranged—comfortable yet devoid of the signs of everyday life.
It’s a place where you could imagine living, yet not quite inhabiting; mundane actions like eating, drinking, or relaxing feel out of place here. This design choice allows the actress to stand out as the sole living presence within a carefully constructed environment, underscoring themes of non-performance and introspection.
Set Decoration
The production design utilized muted colors, soft lighting, and unembellished furniture to craft a lived-in, intimate setting. Each scene was thoughtfully arranged to reflect the artist’s emphasis on "non-performance," with objects and settings that might traditionally serve as transitional becoming focal points. This minimalistic approach allowed Holman’s multidisciplinary practice—spanning painting, moving image, sound, and installation—to shine through, creating a layered narrative that invites viewers to find meaning in stillness and simplicity.
