Bat Cat

For this week's featured painting, I want to introduce a piece titled "Bat Cat." "Bat Cat" was inspired by my first trip to Greece in 1991. The dark images in the Greek sky and the cool tones of the sea and hills created a somber, mysterious atmosphere that influenced this piece. Let me tell you the story.

As an avid lover of history, I remember arriving in Athens and immediately taking a taxi to the Parthenon, arriving around 5:30 PM, just half an hour before closing. I ran up the steps of the Acropolis to witness the late afternoon sun blazing on the Parthenon's white marble, set against a deep blue sky—an incredibly serious perfection. This experience infused "Bat Cat" with a sense of awe and reverence for ancient history and mythology. 

The next day, I joined a tour with five Greeks to Delphi to see the famous oracle. For a thousand years, the Oracle had foretold the future for the Middle East. A small opening in the ground, created by the earthquake and volcanic eruption that destroyed the Minoan civilization and formed Santorini, was central to the oracle's power. A woman, usually nude, would sit over this crack, inhaling hallucinogenic fumes while peering at a large python. She mumbled answers to questions about life, and the priests of the Temple of Apollo interpreted her garbled speech. This fascinating history made me eager to see the Oracle of Delphi. 

The Oracle declined over time and was closed by the Christian emperor around 400 BCE. While in Delphi, I saw the sculpture called the Charioteer of Delphi, one of the few original works from the great classical period of Greece. As I walked around a corner and gasped, I had arrived at Delphi from the land side, and stepping around the corner, I found myself on a high mountain above the Bay of Corinth, far below me. With the Oracle, this was an awesome spectacle. Another awe-inspiring experience after yesterday at the Parthenon. 

I flew to Mykonos and took a boat to Delos. The word ‘archipelago’ means ‘islands around Delos’. Delos, along with the Oracle, were the two most sacred places in ancient Greece. Delos was full of temples donated by all the city-states of Greece. However, no person was allowed to be born or die on Delos. I made many drawings that afternoon on this island. Around 180 BCE, a king attacked Delos, destroyed the temples, and took the massive treasure created by centuries of religious donations. 

My mother was a lover of Greek myths, so I became remarkably familiar with these serious, often violent stories that could also be full of funny anecdotes. These tales, combined with my experiences in Greece, deeply influenced the creation of "Bat Cat." 

In this painting, I sought to convey a whimsical and surreal vision through the fusion of dreamlike imagery and vibrant colors. The central figure is a large cat-like face, occupying most of the canvas, with exaggerated, luminous eyes that dominate the upper portion of the composition. The eyes are painted in vivid yellow and green hues, contrasting sharply with the darker fur, and are designed to draw the viewer in with their intense gaze. The fur itself is rendered with soft, almost fuzzy edges, giving it an ethereal and otherworldly presence, as if the cat is part of a dream or a vision. 

The overall shape of the cat's head is almost circular, creating a sense of completeness and unity. The ears are pointed and slightly translucent, blending into the background in a way that suggests fragility and fluidity. This choice of form and texture was deliberate, intended to evoke the mysterious and elusive nature of the cat. The smooth transitions between light and shadow on the cat's face enhance its three-dimensionality, making it appear as though it could leap out of the painting at any moment. The entire visage is surrounded by a subtle halo of soft pink and purple, which adds to its mystical quality and highlights the central focus of the painting. 

At the center of the cat's face, I placed a smaller, anthropomorphic figure with feline features. This figure emerges from the cat's forehead, symbolizing an inner self or a dual nature. The smaller figure's pink tones contrast with the darker hues of the larger cat, drawing the viewer's attention to this intimate and mysterious connection. 

The background transitions from deep, midnight blue at the top to a lighter, almost icy blue at the bottom, creating a sense of depth and a serene, cold atmosphere. The subtle gradients in the sky evoke a feeling of twilight, enhancing the mystical quality of the scene. The choice of a deep, midnight blue at the top creates a sense of mystery and vastness, while the gradual transition to the lighter, almost icy blue at the bottom evokes the calm and stillness of a cold winter's night. This gradient effect not only adds depth to the composition but also helps to frame the central cat figure, making it stand out more prominently against the background. The blending of colors was achieved through delicate brushwork and layering, creating a smooth transition that invites the viewer to move their gaze from the top to the bottom of the painting, experiencing the full range of its atmospheric qualities. The twilight feel is further emphasized by the subtle interplay of light and shadow, suggesting the fleeting moments between day and night, reality and dream. 

The snowy, undulating landscape at the bottom of the painting provides a grounding element, suggesting a vast, quiet environment that further emphasizes the surreal and floating nature of the cat and its companion. The simplicity of the landscape contrasts with the intricate details of the cat's eyes and the central figure, creating a balanced composition that invites contemplation. 

Through this piece, I aimed to explore themes of identity, duality, and the fantastical realms that exist within the subconscious. The choice of colors and the surrealistic elements are meant to evoke a sense of wonder and introspection, encouraging viewers to delve into their own interpretations and emotions as they engage with the artwork. The painting also embodies the theme of dichotomy, highlighting the complex relationship between the outer self and the inner self, the real and the imaginary. This complexity is harmonized through the balanced composition and the interplay of contrasting elements, illustrating how seemingly opposing forces can coexist and create a cohesive and thought-provoking visual narrative. 

Ultimately, "Bat Cat" serves as a reminder that embracing our inner complexities and harmonizing the dualities within us can lead to a richer, more nuanced understanding of ourselves and the world around us. As Carl Jung once said, "The most terrifying thing is to accept oneself completely." This quote embodies the lesson that true harmony is found not in the absence of conflict, but in the balance and integration of our diverse facets, leading to a more authentic and fulfilling life.