In Love with Cats for Ten Thousand Years

Are you a cat person or a dog person?

In this world, various creatures, not just dogs and cats, live with humans not so much as pets but as family members. However, in casual conversation, there's a somewhat broad question like, "Are you a dog person or a cat person?"

If I had to answer that question, I'd say I'm a "cat person." I like wild birds too, but given a choice between the two, I'm a cat person.
As for dogs, I only really started to understand their appeal after becoming an adult (when I was a child, I couldn't stand them, always barking and seemingly ready to bite). After living with cats for nearly 20 years, I've come to see the universal wonder of all living creatures, including both cats and dogs, as well as the unique charm of "dogs" that cats don't possess. For some reason, my aversion to them disappeared. It might seem paradoxical to understand dogs through cats, but that's how it was for me, so it can't be helped. The charm and social nature of dogs seem to have some resemblance to humans, making them easier to understand.

But what about cats?
Speaking purely from my personal experience, I felt there was more to cats – a freedom, mystery, and enigmatic quality common to their species – that couldn't be understood simply by living with one for a long time, beyond the mutual affection and happy daily interactions.

That's why I can understand why humans are so fascinated by cats, and the desire to use them as a subject and make them their own. The relationship with cats is diverse, elusive, and captivating precisely because it's so mysterious, much like "love."

This book is an art book that unravels the history of humanity's love affair with cats.
It's enjoyable how the book presents visuals that embody the historical relationship between humans and cats, starting from ancient times, sometimes pairing them within the context of colors and shapes, and other times with humor, laid out across double-page spreads.

It features works by Yoshitomo Nara and Fumi Yanagimoto depicting girls and cats (also on the cover of the small print collection "UTOUTO"), as well as works by various artists from East and West, past and present, such as Utagawa Hiroshige, Giacometti, Picasso, Beardsley, and Warhol. It also includes the cover of Carole King's classic album, cat litter packaging, the beckoning cats of Gotokuji Temple, and even "Nameko" cats in school uniforms. With such a wide array of cats, it seems like a book that Japanese people like me would enjoy the most.

While the list may seem disparate, looking at each item individually reveals the multifaceted charm of cats, and the history of humanity's surrender, admiration, and love, unable to resist their allure.

And even the book's design is as captivating as a cat.
The hardcover features a perfectly round cat, with a curled tail in front of its wide-open, round eyes. This adorable, spherical mass might leap at you or scratch you the next moment. The design's exquisite skill makes you feel the cat's unpredictable next move, all in a very simple form.
Moreover, the cat is embossed to give it presence, while the paw prints and title are debossed, creating a tactile and thoughtful presentation that can only be born of a deep love for cats.

While this book might be a bit pricey for myself, I highly recommend it as a gift for family or close friends who are enthusiasts or "otaku" in any category: cats, design, art, or folklore. I ended up buying it for myself!

As I gaze at this book, I think of the beloved cats who live on in my heart.
And I wish for the peaceful and loving lives of all the cats and their families around the world today, and I pray that the history between humanity and cats will continue to flow uninterrupted, so much so that a second volume of this book might one day be created.

Phaidon Editors - Cat

Artwork:    -
Format:   hard cover
product no. :     9781838669447

＿

Text and Photos / Fumika Arasawa Designer Freelance ⇄ Company employee, occasionally assisting friends. Moved to Matsumoto in 2024. Instagram: @fumika *Related products from rovakk musikk can be found here.

＿

WALLFLOWER CATALOGUE

Designer Fumika Arasawa introduces one captivating artwork each time.
Updated once a month.

*Starting this time, the update schedule has changed to early each month (the first day of the first of the twenty-four solar terms for that month).

Bookmarks and archives are here.