The House Cat and the Ball

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Artist: Capucine Bourcart

Title: The House Cat and the Ball

Attribution: The House Cat and the Ball

Year: 2023

Materials: denim fabric, cat hair

Dimensions: 52 x 19 x 9 in

Image Statement: Irus is an eponymous four-piece sculpture created using the fur of my cat. They demonstrate the bond that can develop between humans and animals. The use of my cat's hair started when it was found that he could be seriously sick. Like a taxidermist, I am using the remnants of his hair when I trim him, in order to keep a vivid and tactile memory of him for the day he would pass away. The bond will still be there, metaphorically. On the other hand, the other material for this series, denim fabric, is seen as a symbol of freedom and individuality. 'The House Cat and the Ball,' shows the activities of the cat, such as walking, running, or sleeping. The dimensions of the rug are a small scale of the proportions of my home, and the ball represents the toy with which the cat used to play. This piece carries another metaphor about the freedom of exploration and play within a strict designated framework. Like the cat, a free animal that you cannot control, but captive within a house.