Plenty of big-name exhibitions have popped up in Singapore’s museums as of late; There’s The World of Studio Ghibli at the ArtScience Museum, the dreamy Monet Inside by Korea’s Groundseesaw at Parkview Square, and The Art of Banksy: Without Limits at Orchard, just to mention a few. But equally worthy of the limelight is a whimsical cat-themed art exhibition that has quietly opened its doors at a lesser-known gallery at Tanjong Pagar.
Titled Cats in a Floating World, this free-entry exhibition at I.F. Gallery along Tras Street features works by 14 Japanese contemporary artists, all with their own depictions of – you guessed it – cats. Now that’s what you call a purr-fect date idea for feline-lovers.
The first thing you’ll see upon stepping into the cosy gallery is a towering statue of a cat dressed in what looks to be a futuristic metal helmet. This installation is from Kanji Yanobe’s Ship’s Cat series, which is inspired by how cats have played a part in exploration and travel since the days of old – as both companions and symbols of protection.
You won’t be able to cart this massive figure home of course, but smaller gachapon (capsule toy) versions are available for purchase at just $5 per randomised design. There's also a tote bag ($35) featuring the same cat character.
Moving into the rest of the space, you’ll find rows of framed illustrated works with felines all at the forefront. Japanese elements are clearly present throughout the pieces – either in the form of traditional art styles like ukiyo-e blended with modern techniques, or the representation of scenes iconic to Japan, but ‘cattified’. Some examples include a sakura tree with cats perched on its branches; a cat mischievously bursting through a paper shoji door to retrieve a ball; and a little kitty sitting on the edge of a bonsai plant in a traditional-style scroll painting.
We won’t spoil it for you any further – head down to catch this exhibition with your own eyes before it leaves Singapore. It’s a lighthearted and easy-to-digest one that any crazy cat lady (or gentleman) is sure to find pretty pawsome.
Cats in a Floating World will be running at I.F. Gallery (45 Tras Street) till December 29, 2024, from 12pm to 8.30pm daily. Find out more via I.F. Gallery’s Instagram page and website.
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