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.)
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| Toi et Moi - Meditation |
* * * * * * * *
*
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.
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| Toi et Moi - Habitude |
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| Toi et Moi - Tendresse |
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)
