the 6th catmaSutra cat art exhibition: Six Appeal!

Bright, quirky, happy, and extremely sticky… the underlying sweetener that prods and gels catmaSutra 6 into existence. In preparing for Six Appeal, somebody has turned the hour glass upside down … night becomes day… and mornings slip away before I can shake my dreams away. It’s the sweetest constellation, regulated not by the ticking of the clock, but by an ‘unnatural’ natural rhythm (the stoned-out vampire syndrome). The rainy days are a plus, beating down the incessant heat with its own intense outpouring. The strong thumping of the rain in the early morning hours, in the afternoons and the nights exudes a weird sense of completion. Haha I have taken so many photos of the rain that I can probably do an album on the theme soon. Along with scouting for music (for music that resonates is the sound of the soul), listening to the rain, painting and watching the entire range of activities my cats go through (which ain’t that many, considering their favourite zzz pastime)- this is truly the sweet taste of freedom.

My Sweetest Constellation

Have a beautiful vision.

Walk softy, live gently.
Find your own stars
live for them…

So this is the theme for catmaSutra Six Appeal, finding that quirky, delightful feeling that makes you contemplate and believe that things can be transformed just by holding on to a vision; for an artist, how an empty canvas can be transformed by an idea, into the sweetest constellation – the personal configuration of stars that allows us to move in the way we want. All we can do is believe and follow the signs, or as the catmaSutra cats would have it, the code of Meowism…

Meowism

catmaSutra cat art gifts and collectibles

Sara Lov – Fountain
animated by  Seonna Hong.

…

Been raining crazy the past days… but then again, I do like the rain and its music. The sound of rain falling is  like a grand symphony, the chorus followed by the melody…the air cool and moist with birds chirping their little songs one after another. It’s all seamless, one blending into another, the waves of thumping raindrops, a strong outpouring and then fades and softens. We take for granted the passing of each day but the rain makes us stop and we should stop for a while. Maybe rain is like music, our little music videos that allow us to swim in its melody… In the grand scheme of things, our time here is short; it’s as if we’re living on borrowed time.  Every thing fades and softens…

How I loved the rain-
Used to be
because it felt like
redemption
for things we did
and didn’t do.

The comfort of rain-
because it seemed cold
but  it’s warm within.

It tasted bitter-sweet,

this hidden smile

this fateful tear

I still love the rain
but now only as change
from a sunny day..

A limited collection of selected  catmaSutra cat art collectibles are now available locally in Singapore. These cheeky catmaSutra cats are 100% charming and happy and they make purrfect gifts! Go take a peek and browse through the different designs  for tote bags, keepsake boxes, and tile coasters. Hurry as there’s   only one of each design while stock lasts. They’re for local purchases only and there will be a 10% discount if you purchase them directly

Everything is soul and flowering…

~Rumi

Peace & Happiness

I did a commission of his 2 Bengal cats, and he recommended this clip to me. He was sure that I will find some semblance of truth in it… And I couldn’t agree more! So the clip below is an introductory guide to owning a playful cat, who in my case loves catching and chasing lizards, paper (crunched) balls, and his latest craze, a teddy bear key-chain which, when thrown at a fast pace resembled a mini furry creature scrambling for its dear life. Angel plays fetch of course, fetching you the above mentioned prey so that you can release it for its apparent pleasure.

The funny thing is that when we kept the teddy bear toy in a box, he would  ‘guard’ over it by pretending to sleep and flip on his back near the box, which inherently means sleeping on our notebook and pressing countless keys on the keyboard. Below are some of the “stills” of Angel.

Incidentally, Angel peed on the sofa bed so play

 

was suspended temporarily pending further investigation…

We were of course pretty angry with the “devil-in-disguise” angel, and he received some silent treatment from us. However, after some detective work, we concluded that it was done under duress. There were obviously two piles of shit, with one piece of the shitty business conducted earlier by Halo which was a tad ostentatious in terms of smell. The second piece of business was done in quite a bit of haste, with the last of his chocolate nuggets left on the step just before the exit of the covered litter box.

 

Angel at the remand centre

As I happened to wake up late in the day Angel, who I’m sure had vowed at the spur of the moment never to ever deal in that area, decided to take his business elsewhere. We were pretty upset with him, as this was the second time in two weeks. We have to strip the mattress and cushions, scrub and spray smell-curbing chemicals and personal cologne , sun (which is hard to come by in the last couple of days), and finally add a touch of Bengay cream (actually it’s for muscle ache) to sufficiently mask the stank of below-the-table business.

Angel relieved at the verdict

After serious deliberation, Angel was let off with a stern warning and found “not culpable in the first degree”. We were away for a few days in the first instance and hence not around to be his efficient toilet keepers. He got away the second time as it was quite evident that he was under considerable duress and accepted that it was all a case of bad timing.We also refrain from calling Halo as co-defendant for this smelly episode.

An original commissioned catmaSutra painting

 

called “peace and happiness”

for Truffles and Silky, aka Paul and Helen

Here’s Truffles…

 

It’s a great thing that in commissioning the painting,

they have decided to go for the catmaSutra cats

rather than straight portraits of their cats.

Silky and Truffles

It’s the spirit that matters…

 

Without the spirit,

there is nothing else…

Standing the test of time

The greatest thing a human soul ever does
in this world is to see something
and tell what he saw in a plain way.
To see clearly is poetry, prophecy, and religion all in one.
~John Ruskin

Hundreds of thousands of impressions
from the invisible are wanting to come through you!I get dizzy with the abundance. When life
is this dear, it means the source is pulling us.

Freshness comes from there. We’re given the gift
of continuously dying and being resurrected.

catmaSutra cat art exhibition, From the Depths of My Lullaby:
Lotus Lullaby

He was an elderly fellow, tanned, sporting an earring, and carrying two bags, each sling across the shoulders. He walked with a limp towards us, but stopped half way as he spied a black and white cat in the furniture shop before the eatery. He made eye-contact with the cat and with his body gestures, which must be a language in itself to the cat, he strained to bend over, and putting his hand into one bag like a magician, he released a handful of dry colorful cat food pellets into a plastic bowl (seems like these two are already acquainted). Breaking into a little smile, he proceeded towards the eatery where I was eating my prawn noodle, and he started gesturing to the people in the eatery that he needed some money to feed himself. He went from table to table and met with the usual response. People averted their eyes and shook their heads. I’ve prepared a two dollar note and that would be my gift to him if he came by but he didn’t. Randomly, he moved from table to table and before long, limped away…

I’ve “met” a few cats in my time (especially as i started when I was a kid), in some alley or by the road side. It is a language without words, an understanding of our inherent natures, almost. There are, of course, cats who are afraid and ran off the minute you catch their attention. One can only imagine how the fear got into them. Then, there are those who recognize the language, and like many similar instances, I find myself sitting on the pavement by the roadside stroking a purring stray cat. I would then run off to some 7-11 and buy a packet of cat food. That was my chance meeting with a cat, and by this chance, the cat was going to get a tasty meal. What is interesting is that some of these cats are already quite well-fed and it was there spending time with you simply because it wanted to.There was one black and white cat at Empress place that I remember quite fondly as it loves to sit on the lap… It’s hard to leave them once you made the connection.

Our street cats

I have no name for what

purrs so perfectly

from out of our urban wild…

The elderly man was begging for food
and he feeds a stray on the street.

There is an understanding of
what it’s like to be on your own,

or what it’s like to be alone,

or what it’s like to be poor and old

Take your pick

the one that purrs on the street

purrs straight into

the poor little heart.

And only the ones with

the heart can see.

My colleague and I were walking back from lunch one day when we almost bump into an old lady. She was trying to sell tissue packets to passers-by. We walked past her but turned around. We gave her $2 each and asked her to go have a good meal. We didn’t need the tissue so we didn’t take any. She was surprised and stood motionless for a while before saying her thank yous. That was our chance meeting with the old lady, and by this chance, she was going to at least get a decent meal.

Reason has no way to say

its love. Only love opens

that secret.

If you want

to be more alive, love

is the truest health.

~Rumi

Freedom to choose

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress

can be judged by the way its animals are treated”

~ Mahatma Gandhi

Do we treat our animals well? How does our government view animals? If  I were to venture an answer, the answer would be they have no views. They are not significant enough unless they’re the cause (or suspected of being the cause) of an epidemic, or there are complaints from the ‘majority of Singaporeans’ (one of the favourite phrases that you’ll hear … We have grown a lot as a nation, and yet in many ways, we have not grown at all… Sometimes you wonder… A woman feeds a group of stray cats, and the most common comments you’ll hear is “Is this hygienic? Should we call the authorities?” There’re so many hit-and-run cases regarding cats that you wonder about the nature of people.

Ever occur to you why some of us can be

this much concerned with animals suffering?

Because government is not.  Why not?

Animals don’t vote.  ~Paul Harvey

Sat on my Ikea stool at the yard at 3 am, listening to music from my Ipod, eating sesame moon cake and drinking green tea, and talking philosophy (not much point with regard to politics). I think this phrase is true, ‘90% of what we feel is only our own interpretation’, meaning that we are all addicted or attached to something, and finding means and reasons to justify them. We are all addicts, one way or another, and it’s difficult to let go – to change one habit for another. It’s hard because we normally try to replace a bad habit with a good one. Makes you wonder how we pick up all these bad habits in the first place; it’s as if we are being subconsciously hypnotized (which may be true in more ways than one). Finished another painting today. It’s rather an experimental one, called the “color of yellow”. Slowing life down to exacting beauty. It’s a beautiful way to live when the present is all you have.

Angel, my blue Russian has taken an instant liking to a key-chain teddy bear that I brought home, and as we adjourned into the yard, he has taken upon himself to carry the teddy bear to near where we sat, half-looking at us, hoping that we’ll play catch again. Haha, he’s looking for it now although I have hid it before he pulls out the limbs…

peace

catmaSutra Artees

10% goes to Cat Welfare Society

With animals,

we have the freedom to choose…

to love, protect, care  OR to fear, hate, abuse

How we choose

determines the kind of person that we are.

Nothing goes away,

we get better or we get worse.

That ingredient of Life

“Someone said Brecht wanted everybody to think alike. I want everybody to think alike… Everybody looks alike and acts alike, and we’re getting more and more that way.” Andy Warhol commenting on social mechanization in 1963.

Tomato-based catfish Soup

Makes me wonder how we are all the same and more interestingly how we are different. Seems like there is this special ingredient that is hidden in a capsule (so to speak) that is buried within us when we are born. Our goal perhaps is to find this capsule and unravel it before it dissolves away, or gets hidden by tons of other things that mean much less to us. Our body and our senses are very much the same. They are subjected to all kinds of distractions, temptations and naturally, an operating system that program us to be whatever nationality we are and all the associated quirks.

Adapted from Obedience School 101

It’s easy to see the special ingredient, it seems, if we are artists, musicians, or writers; whether we follow our ‘calling’ or give in to the ‘programming sequence’ is another question. Money, and security comes with the operating system especially if it’s made in Singapore. It may be quite baffling when the special ingredient is not quite so apparent but it’s there nevertheless. That’s probably the main reason why we are different. Some people simply love watching TV above everything else (why not go into that industry one way or another), others may be gregarious in nature and the service industry may be a perfect match. Bottom line is, we have to consciously search for that buried capsule with our very own x-factor, and find a place in the world where we can fully utilize it, unravel it. That, I suspect, is part of the secret to happiness. When we are in our element, we can only get better.

No Parking on Rooftops

If we allow the operating system complete control, then inevitably, we’ll get lost somewhere and we’ll start to wonder where we’re heading, and whether it’s worth it. Many things that we seemingly need are not worth the trouble. Life can really be better with less, if what’s left is what you love.

Sunscreen

EVERYBODY’S FREE (TO WEAR SUNSCREEN) by BAZ LUHRMAN
(Edited to catmaSutra Cat Art)

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience…I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth;
oh never mind; you will not
understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded.

Don’t worry about the future;
or worry, but know that worrying is as
effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum.

The real troubles in your life
are apt to be things that never crossed
your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm
on some idle Tuesday

Do one thing everyday that scares you.
Sing.
Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts,
don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss Don’t waste your time on jealousy;
sometimes you’re ahead,
sometimes you’re behind…the race is long, and in the end,
it’s only with yourself.

Remember the compliments you receive,
forget the insults; if you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters,
throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know
what you want to do with your life…
the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22
what they wanted to do with their lives,
some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don’t.

Get plenty of calcium.
Be kind to your knees,
you’ll miss them when they’re gone.

Maybe you’ll marry,
maybe you won’t,
maybe you’ll have children,
maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll divorce at 40,
maybe you’ll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary…

what ever you do,
don’t congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either –
your choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s.

Enjoy your body,
use it every way you can…
don’t be afraid of it, or what other people think of it,
it’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever own…

Dance…
even if you have nowhere to do it
but in your own living room.
Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them.

Do NOT read beauty magazines,
they will only make you feel ugly.
Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for good.

Be nice to your siblings;
they are the best link to your past
and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go,
but for the precious few you should hold on.
Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle
because the older you get, the more you need the people
you knew when you were young.

Travel.
Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise,
politicians will philander, you too will get old, and when you do
you’ll fantasize that when you were young prices were reasonable,
politicians were noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.
Don’t expect anyone else to support you.
Maybe you have a trust fund, maybe you have a wealthy spouse;
but you never know when either one might run out.

Be careful whose advice you buy,
but, be patient with those who supply it.
Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past
from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts
and recycling it for more than it’s worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen…
&
magic beans…

New cat art gifts and collectibles!

Catmasutra cat art is based on the real-life adventures of the artist and his two cats. The adventures begin somewhere between this reality and the dream world of imagination. It’s like an “in-between” world, a gap that perhaps the cats are the best navigators, and the artist a hitchhiker, grateful for the directions in a purely weightless realm. The world is never a mechanical thing, set in its course, bland and monotonous but it is always expanding with possibilities; It’s up to us to see the full potential according to our own vision. No one else can think exactly how each of us think, or feel and for this reason, no other person or authority can judge what we really need to make our life more complete as ourselves. We must find out for ourselves what our nature needs to bring it permanent happiness. Then comes the harder part, to let go of our fears and find the freedom to be ourselves completely. This is the world of catmaSutra cats, a world made up of imagination and stories, of childish things, of fairy tales, mythmaking, and all the flights of fancy that grants this artist his
delight.

“The highest truth is something imagined,

not proved, and that it comes not in arguments

but in stories…”

Cat lovers alert! Now you can own a little piece of the latest Catmasutra cat art pieces on these cute, vibrant and adorable cat art collectibles! Filled with irrepressible charm & wit, the collection includes keepsake boxes, framed tiles, tote bags, tile coasters, cat art magnet.

More of the latest designs coming your way soon!

catmasutra video, interview with the Standard, Hong Kong

Don’t miss out if you’re in Hong Kong!Purrfect picture

Joyce Kam, The Standard, Hong Kong
Friday, July 03, 2009

Paul koh’s paintings are sure to put a smile on your face. Cats with ear-to-ear grins add a light-hearted touch to each of the acrylics in his CatmaSutra series, so named because it is meant to depict the different positions and attitudes of his signature animal.

“Through the years, the CatmaSutra cat has evolved its own story. It’s almost alive in its own way, snuggling into different situations and making itself comfortable at every instance,” said Koh, who has been working on the series since 2004.

“Its big smile, or the eyes-wide-shut and ear-to-ear grin, represents a deep- seated childhood innocence cum devil- may-care bravado.”

Koh’s latest artworks will debut at Harbour City’s Gallery by the Harbour in Tsim Sha Tsui tomorrow. The show, “From The Depths of My Lullaby,” will feature 25 paintings until July 28. The imperturbable cat is everywhere – stuck in a Chinese soup jar, sleeping on a lotus leaf or playing mahjong.

The quirky style in the paintings is based on the personality of Koh’s two pets, Halo and Angel. He reckons the series is as a gateway to a new space, a wonderland where emotions are innocent enough to run free, and dreams more than just make-believe.

At times, Koh pays tribute to the masters by having the cat sailing under the great wave of Katsushika Hokusai’s famous painting, taking a coffee break at Vincent Van Gogh’s yellow house and hanging on in a Piet Mondrian composition.

“It’s a way of immersing myself via the cat into the classic paintings I love. In the explorations, the cat is the navigator and we are hitchhikers, grateful for directions in a perfectly innocent and weightless realm,” said Koh.

Having grown up with cats his entire childhood, he finds his paintings were inspired by his association, friendship and understanding of the felines.

“The cats in my home were not house cats. They were free to roam wherever and whenever. They were independent individualists, and freedom was their modus operandi. Wherever they are, they seem capable of being happy,” he said.

The paintings are priced between HK$5,400 and HK$12,100, and there are collectibles such as tote bags, keepsake boxes and coasters.

Said Koh: “Honestly, it’s a bittersweet feeling when the paintings get sold. Each of them is dear to me as it is a tribute to a happy story that’ll put a smile on our faces. I grew up with cats and I hope each CatmaSutra painting rekindles a little of everything that we believe to be true as children.”

Date: July 4 to 28

Time: 11am to 9pm

Venue: Gallery by the Harbour
(Shop 207, Level 2, Ocean Center, Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui)

Inquiry: 2118-0090

catmaSutra cat art – Land on the other side of the rainbow

Land without Boundaries

Keep walking, though there’s no place to get to.
Don’t try to see through the distances.
That’s not for human beings. Move within,
but don’t move the way fear makes you move.
~Rumi

Land without boundaries is a place within. We forget that there is such a place, a place that we all wish for, a place without war, cruetly, hunger, fear, or pain. We may even feel that such a place no longer exists. We find cruelty everywhere – from the way animals are kept and slaughtered to the power of the wealthy over the poor- and we learn to walk away. I think sometimes we forget that whatever we do, we do it to ourselves. Nothing goes away in this world. It’s cause and effect. Everything gets imprinted. When we finally leave this place, there is nothing we can bring with us, just this place within us. It can be peaceful and beautiful, or it can be terrifying. Don’t move the way fear makes you move. This is a repetitive world made up of the sums of all our choices. This is a universe of potentialities, waiting for an intervention to affect the outcome. Love is an intervention. Why do we not choose it again and again?“

SPCA and Cat Welfare Society are offering a $2,000 Reward* for information leading to the apprehension and prosecution of the person/s who may be responsible for the suspected poisoning of cats at Bayshore Park condominium since Thursday, 11 June. Please call SPCA at 6287 5355 ext 9. You may be required to assist the police in their investigation. The affected felines were found unconscious or disoriented. Five have since died or have been put down. Cruelty to animals is a crime under Singapore law and is punishable by imprisonment of up to 12 months and/or fine of up to $10,000.

The other side of the rainbow

Some nights stay up till dawn,
as the moon sometimes does for the sun.
Be a full bucket pulled up the dark way
of a well, then lifted out into light

The other side of the rainbow, on the other side of this great big world.

Something opens our wings. Something
makes boredom and hurt disappear.
Someone fills the cup in front of us.
We taste only sacredness.

If I open my eyes, I can see the blue sky.
And the sunlight on my face, and the sounds of birds…
It’s easier than fear and all its derivatives…