If a sibling or loved one woke up one day to find that they have swapped souls with a family cat, what would life look like? Local artist Josie Ip (葉小喬) answers that question through the creation of a series of artworks depicting the lives of siblings as they suddenly find that their older brother “Koko” and “Mio”, the family cat, have somehow swapped souls.
Showcased in an illustration exhibition titled “Swapped: My Brother’s Life as a Cat” that kicked off last week, it features a series of 35 colourful digital drawings presented at 10 Fantasia Gallery’s Room C03. Upon entering, exhibitiongoers will be introduced to the characters involved in the works, namely three siblings and the family cat, as well as the situations that they find themselves in before and after the swap occurred. Ip reimagines and draws moments from commuting and scenes of working in an office to glimpses of life and interactions between the characters as they go about their days.
Aside from the digital drawings, gallerygoers will also find a series of captioned sketches on paper throughout the venue, as well as items like tote bags, notebooks and postcards featuring the characters.
Regarding the artist’s explanation for how the soul swapping happened, a recent statement displayed at the gallery notes that it simply occured after a night of heavy drinking, with “Koko”, the 27-year-old eldest brother, “accidentally” swapping souls with the four-year-old family cat. “What follows is a series of funny, heartwarming and down-to-earth episodes that explore their family life from a whole new perspective”, according to the statement, with a separate statement on the 10 Fantasia website adding that some moments may also prove relatable to viewers.
The exhibition is curated by Macau-based artist and illustrator Wong Kin Tong, who has showcased his works nationally and internationally, the statement said. Artist Ip, meanwhile, has a passion for cross-disciplinary creation, which she shows through her works including illustration, animation and installations, the statement said. Her works are described as “combining warmth and humour drawn from everyday life with a touch of imagination”, according to the statement.
Ip graduated from the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, majoring in Environmental Art Design. She directed her first “dark-themed animation” titled “Inheritance” in 2023 after joining the Local View Power programme, which is organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) and supports Macau’s filmmakers. It debuted in 2007.
Members of the public may admire the works in the free-admission exhibition until December 23. The gallery is located on Calçada da Igreja de S. Lázaro (瘋慊閨眷) and is open from Tuesdays to Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is closed on Mondays.
For more details on the events and exhibitions at 10 Fantasia gallery, one can visit its website and its Facebook page.
– Photos: Rui Pastorin
