RRSG

The House Cat and the Ball

A long cloth rectangle with frayed edges and an applied composition of irregular dots and lines. Hairy yellow beige markings contrast with smooth, dark ground.

Cover Image for The House Cat and the Ball
Cover Image for The House Cat and the Ball
Detail of "The House Cat and the Ball" showing the cat hair felted into the denim.
Image of "The House Cat and the Ball" that includes a ball made in the same technique.

The House Cat and the Ball

Artist

Capucine Bourcart

Medium

Denim fabric, cat hair

Technique

Felting

Dimensions

52" x 19" x 9"

Time Period

2023

Statement from the Artist

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.