Who would have known that a creature that meows and purrs can relate to many of our humanly sentiments and even provide calmness within that subconscious mayhem?

“Painting is the passage from the chaos of the emotions to the order of the possible,” so said French painter Balthus. I presume that Catmasutra: Enlightened series creator Paul Koh must have that renowned quote etched in his mind while colouring each canvas. Each painting sheltered in Artoholic Gallery relates to our emotions through the situation faced by a cat and brings us to find solitary, making each paint-daubed canvas appropriate for a different occasion.

The cat captured in each painting is almost similar in expression: eyes wide shut, with ear-to-ear grin. Paul based the cat’s trademark expression on Asian philosophical traditions, especially Buddhism, Zen and Taoism. Paul’s artworks also attempt to relate back to humans’ true nature of masking their emotions at the relevant times.

Though the cat is plastered with repetitive facial expressions canvas after canvas, its surroundings also draw out the cat’s emotions (and at times, ours too).

Lovey-dovey uncertainty

This is one of my favourites, In-between Love.

With the different shades of red and the pretty rose evoking feelings of love and passion, the cat stands amidst the ‘curtains’ of pinkish intimacy and butterflies of dreams. Impending romantic love comes with constant butterflies fluttering in one’s stomach and the uncertainty of whether the possible partner will respond to your love. This weighs heavily in a lover’s heart.

After-lunch contentment

As outwardly portrayed by the ‘green grass’ background, this painting seems inspired by the Taoist concept of yin and yang (uniting two total opposites). The Perfect Harmony of the living cat and the dead fish also shows the humanly after-lunch contentment. The cat shows its pleasure on its facial expression and the silhouette of the bird on the ‘grass’ denotes the fantastic feeling most of us have after savouring a delicious meal.

For the lazing holiday joy

From the painting’s title Summer of Desire to the bright sunflowers to the way the cat is laying on the rock, every detail directs us to a blazing summer holiday.

The bright yellowish canvas reminds you of the bumming around moments during your holidays, when you just don’t feel like going outdoors. But, there is the reminder that slacking will only contribute to the guilt you’ll feel later on. If only, just like the cat, you can hide among the tall sunflowers and perish these guilt-stricken thoughts.

Also check out other paintings such as the See/Hear/Speak No Evil trilogy and the artworks inspired by the five elements of water, metal, earth, fire and wood.

The Catmasutra: Enlightened series runs till Jun 19 at the Artoholic Gallery.

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