Seated Rooftop Mannequin Toronto Black And White | Wall Art

Dangling Legs And Garland Above A Toronto Rooftop

A mannequin sits casually on the edge of a Toronto rooftop, one leg hanging downward, one knee raised, an arm extended beside it, and its expressionless face tilted toward the sky. Nothing about the scene makes much logical sense, which is precisely what makes me keep looking at it.

The figure is surrounded by ordinary building materials—brick, roofing, gutters, pipes, posts, windows, and a long strand of garland wrapped with small lights. Against all of that familiar urban structure sits this pale human form, posed with enough apparent ease that for a fraction of a second it can almost register as a person. That collision between the ordinary and the absurd is what places the photograph naturally within my unique wall art photography.

Black and white strips away any distracting color and concentrates attention on the mannequin's shape and the geometry around it. The raised knee creates a strong triangular form through the center of the photograph. The hanging foot breaks below the roofline, while the garland runs diagonally across the background and connects the figure with the surrounding architecture. Even the knitted covering around the head contributes to the odd character of the scene.

This is the companion photograph to the standing rooftop mannequin from the same location. I changed both photographs to a square format because I like the relationship between them as a pair. One figure stands behind the railing while this one sits openly on the roof edge. They share the same peculiar environment but have completely different gestures and personalities.

The photograph is offered as a limited edition of only 10 prints. I personally sign each print, and every one includes a certificate of authenticity. It is printed with archival pigment inks on premium archival paper, preserving the subtle grayscale separation in the mannequin, brickwork, decorations, and surrounding building surfaces.

I think the photograph makes the most sense for someone who appreciates unconventional subjects rather than predictable decorative imagery. It can stand alone, although displayed beside the standing mannequin it becomes part of a larger visual joke—two silent figures overlooking the street—and fits naturally within my collection of quirky black and white wall art.

This photograph has a companion piece from the same rooftop installation, showing the second mannequin standing behind the decorated railing. View the Standing Rooftop Mannequin Toronto Black And White print to see the pair together.

© Dan Kosmayer, 2014