Laetitia Ky レティシア・キイ

Since it opened in Kyoto's Demachi Masugata Shopping Arcade in 2020, DELTA / KYOTOGRAPHIE Permanent Space has been hosting young African artists as artists-in-residence, developing projects that connect Kyoto’s local shopping arcades with African culture. This year we are delighted to welcome Laetitia Ky from Ivory Coast.
Ky arrived in Japan in December 2024 and spent two weeks in Kyoto visiting temples, teahouses, and traditional Japanese restaurants for research. At KYOTOGRAPHIE 2025, she is presenting her new series A KYOTO HAIR-ITAGE, which combines photography and hair sculpture to express her unique perspective on Japanese landscapes and culture.

Her unique hair sculptures, completed in a hotel room for each photo shoot, attracted attention as she walked along the streets. Their intricacy and Ky’s open-minded personality made her a natural hit with local people. Ky deepened her understanding of Japanese culture by talking with restaurant owners, temple priests, and other Kyoto residents, gaining new inspiration in the process. While respecting the traditions and history of Kyoto, Ky offers a fresh and distinctive take on the city.

Ky says that the most important thing in her creative endeavors is to “turn my ideas into physical shape.” As an activist, she posts political and social messages on Instagram and other platforms, but this series reflects a shift in her mindset to simply enjoying what she loves—a new side of her that differs from her usual strong gaze.
This work is being exhibited in two locations: the Demachi Masugata Shopping Arcade and DELTA. At the shopping arcade, Ky's grace is expressed through fabric that reminds one of an obi sash, while at DELTA the dignified hanging scroll-like presentation symbolises her inner ‘toughness.’