Visible Soul

I’ve been making cat drawings on old book pages from a French poetry book called “Toi et Moi” (You and Me) by Paul Géraldy (1885–1983.)

Toi et Moi - Defaite
Ink and mineral pigment on old book page
2014

I don’t know French, so I can’t read the poems. I once tried to give this book to a poet friend of mine who loves Paris and knows French. He politely declined by saying that he has way too many books in his place, and cannot bring any more books home (such as this one.) And he added, “And you may want to use this book for your art, Naoe. So, why don’t you keep it for yourself?”

And I’m using it now. I’m glad that I still had this book, and the title and feel of these old book pages just seem so right for what I’m doing. This work is for my beloved cat, Ash.

Ash passed away last October. She was seventeen years old, a sweet cat, blind and deaf, intelligent, patient, a hunter in her youth, and a Zen master in her old age. She was full of wisdom, always on her own pace but also easy-going as cat can be. She easily adapted to a new environment whenever I moved (and I moved four times in her life.) She was loved by many people. A number of friends took turn in taking care of Ash while I was away at art residency a few months before she passed away. It needed a team of friends to do so, including giving her infusion time to time. With her blind eyes, she could see infinity, and she could see the depth in your heart. In her last month, I was in the studio working everyday, and she was always besides me, side by side, almost joined by hips like a conjoined twin. She kept me a company. On her last night, she slept in my arms all night. In the early morning the next day, five minutes after I woke up and while I was watching her, she took her last breath. She gave me time to say good-bye to her. I told her I loved her and she could go.

Toi et Moi - Passe

“I love cats because I enjoy my home; and little by little, they become its visible soul.”

-Jean Cocteau

After Ash was gone, my eyes kept looking for her in every corner of the house. I kept seeing traces of Ash everywhere. And I still do, and I feel her presence.

Toi et Moi - Meditation

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Ash will be joined by lots of cats who were loved, adored, spoiled and captured in many different forms of art by artists such as Louise Bourgeois, Kiki Smith, Andy Warhol, Edward Weston and many more. I think Ash would be really thrilled. I wonder if this might even help her status in the cat heaven. I hope so.

Toi et Moi - Habitude

Toi et Moi - Tendresse

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Visible Soul: Celebrating the feline as muse through painting, drawing, photography, and sculpture. 

“I love cats because I enjoy my home; and little by little, they become its visible soul.”

-Jean Cocteau

The exhibit will highlight the feline-inspired work of established and mid-career artists while giving a well-deserved nod to the felines of antiquity and early cinema. 

Visible Soul: Celebrating the feline as muse through painting, drawing, photography, and sculpture.

Curated by Andrew Mroczek

Reception: Thursday, May 15th, 6-8pm

VanDernoot Gallery

Lesley University

1815 Massachusetts 

Cambridge, MA 02140

Featuring works by: Ulisse Aldrovandi, Juan Jose Barboza-Gubo, Leonard Baskin, Louise Bourgeois, Carlos Cardenas, Jan Groover, Karin Gulbran, Yui Kugimiya, Duane Michals, Bob Mizer, J. Morrison, Karen Moss, Mueller & Robinson, Bernard Picart, Andre Ruesch, Carolee Schneemann, Kiki Smith, Naoe Suzuki, Arne Svenson, Louis Wain, Andy Warhol, Shen Wei, Edward Weston, Neil Winokur, and many more…

The exhibition and reception are free and open to the public.

Visible Soul is dedicated to the lives and memories of Mr. Grover and Pigeon, who were, quite possibly, the world’s most adorable, ill-behaved cats. (Andrew Mroczek)