Tokuhiro Kawai (1971-present, Japanese)

Tokuhiro Kawai (1971- present, Japanese) is a surrealist contemporary artist who weaves stories into his art. Sometimes relying on fantasy and magic, his works ignore gravity and perspective, stimulating thought and imagination with vivid colors. Kawai’s “regal” cats are whimsical; whereas other works are more serious, depicting cats as gods and devils.

His paintings of Regal Cats where Scottish Folds appear as kings find the cat the pampered center of attention of cherubs fluttering around and dotingly meeting every one of the cats’ needs.

Cats are Kawai’s favorite subject. He represents them as gods and conquerors who are sometimes power hungry. This is apparent in the painting Captor where a cat stalks an angel from above and in the painting Ignorant Person where the cat sitting on a pillar has killed an angel as if it were a bird.

In Umbrella Beach, Kawai uses the proverb of the cat predicting rain by washing itself. In Sandman, Kawai is illustrating his connection with other living creatures as well as the cat.

No matter demon or god, Tokuhiro Kawai captures the cat’s innate nature perfectly.

Idea of a Certain Cat
2004

Tame Cat’s Optical Illusion, 2006

The Occupation of a Cat, 2010

Smolder Thinking, 2008

Cherubs and Cat

My Friend’s Cats

Two Regal Cats

Ignorant Person, 2004

Captor, 2005

Umbrella Beach

Sandman, 2005

Fairy in Garden, 2006

Each Idea, 2005

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