Catmasutra smile!

There's something about Nara Yoshitomo's paintings and Haruki Murakami books that got me hooked. Maybe it's that oddness, the feeling of not really belonging anywhere and that nothing is at all what it seems... If you dig deeper, walk between the raindrops, you can find something else in between. Only you can find what's hidden from you but first, you must start looking. There's this flow of energy that vibrates in between, that blurs the line between reality and myth, between the power of everyday and the power of imagination. Catmasutra paintings are part of this in-between world. The irrepressible wide grin of the cats is representative of that energy. haha it's a good place to be in when everyday realities take a toll on us... Moral of the story, when you have a running nose or a headache from everyday life - take a break, read a good book, be like the catmasutra cats - there's always a smile for everything!

Catmasutra - Unplugged?

Paintings in Catmasutra is about creating a world that exists between our memories and reality – an “in-between” world. It is about the magic that suddenly grabs us, makes us laugh and remember things that don’t necessarily fit neatly anywhere. But you know it’s there, warm with life, hopelessly elusive, yet popping up time and again to fill you up in weird places. What is it that creates magic? Special times, special memories – maybe that’s why it’s important to keep on experiencing new things, travel and be in a different place at least once a year. Get out of the system for a while. See, hear and feel things for yourself. Pull the plug. Follow the rabbit down the rabbit hole. Live…

We live in a programmed society, where we’re not encouraged to find out who we are or what we really want to do – just what would guarantee us a better living in the future. Guarantee? Better living? These terms are weird because they co-relate only to money and status. Instead of living well by doing the things we love to do (those are the fortunate few), we’re more likely to see ourselves as graduates or non-graduates, lawyer or doctor, banker or professional, owning a Mercedes or Hyundai, a Condominium or HDB apartment, upwardly mobile or progressively stagnating. We’re manufactured to think that way, with many falling off the wayside unable to make the mark and resigned to life as a very average 7-digit NRIC number. It’s almost like we’re manufactured – with 20 years of programming – and finally churned out, thrown into the market place, with first class seats already assigned. The rest of us are just there to make the numbers, to pay our debts (that we’ve so unknowingly accumulate), and make the system work. That can’t be true, can it? Haha - Whether we’re in first or economy class, we’re all on the same flight. We choose what we bring into our lives and we have only one chance at it. Pull the plug?

A Catmasutra concept - Angel's Screw

Another concept for the "art of rebellion" ! This is for anyone facing a frustrating day in this modern world of ours. A metaphor for "screw you", this one showcases the fine art of deception, a necessary skill in most offices. Smile like an angel, and always be ready to open a bottle of wine - with skill of course. It's harder and harder to get by on merit alone, and those who can play the game well will get ahead. Unless you don't want to play the game; then you can screw everything else, open the bottle of wine and drink to goodwill, faith, and the really good things in life. There's always something to celebrate and be grateful for. You just have to look for it...

Finally - Catmasutra.com!

Yay! Finally got www.catmasutra.com! I was waiting for the domain for a long time and having given it up for lost cause, registered catmasutra-art.com instead. It was held by someone else who, during the last few years, didn't do anything with it. A few months back, I noticed that the domain has expired and there was a notice for the owner to renew it. I was checking it quite frequently then but gave up after a while. Then last week, it was available!!! YAY! Registered it straight away!!!!

"Fat Cat" was the first painting I did of a cat with a fish bone. It was a small piece exhibited in 2003, and one of the few pieces that was sold. It was probably this painting that sparked off the creation of the Catmasutra series! This painting was used as one of the designs for a pack of Christmas Cards for Cat Welfare Society. So come year end, remember to get the pack for a worthy cause and come to my annual exhibition! Fat Cat has really evolved since haha into the shape of Halo, who has been steadily putting on weight as if preparing for this role. Even the fish head is different; Now it has the shape of a heart, an object that signifies one's desires. The secret to getting what one wants? It is to know you have it already. Easier said than done!

This was another piece that was sold, called "Gesture".
HAha I missed this piece as well.

Catmasutra - The art of rebellion - what's your poison?

There are only two things in this world. Hope and fear. The classic dichotomy of life. Hope floats while fear sinks. Hope will lift your heart. Fear wil sink it. when you fear having hope, that's when you know you hit rock bottom, that is, if only you know. Addiction (whatever your poison may be) is a placebo antidope for fear. Hope springs eternal and is the only true antibody known to man. Hahaha from the imaginary book called "Root of all wisdom by Yaya Papayaz" that inspires the true spirit of Catmasutra . Knowing something is different from feeling something. For me the mind always speeds ahead, and it takes some time for my heart to follow. Once the mind and heart becomes one - then it's easy.

Hanging...

Another cool ad for Levis Red Tab Jeans - Hanging. There's a concept somewhere in there for catmasutra... haha Maybe a hanging cat? Below is another ad from Levis that I like...