Roving Eye@mcc

The photos taken with my Sony Ericsson w810i have turned out to be quite alright, so I shall as and when post such snapshots of interesting sightings. I've coined this new feed as RovingEye @ mcc (mcc stands for My Cats' Cove).

I was taking lunch today afternoon at a coffeeshop near my office, along Waterloo Street. The nasi padang is sedap (delicious in Malay)! (I ate something else though) I happened to look up and saw this:

It is a packet of Friskies cat food placed on top of the drinks freezer. That means someone here is a community cat feeder - bless his/her kind heart :)! Sometimes when I walk around my office area, I see small heaps of wet and dry food, and small bowls of water at selected spots along the streets. Over a month, I see like one to two cats (sometimes none) hanging around in the vicinity.

Kitty Love

I had to work yesterday and was at the NUS Cultural Centre. Actually there wasn't much to do. Feeling very bored, I popped in to the Lee Kong Chian Art Museum and ended up having a very good time browsing through five exibitions at the Museum (admission is free). These were "Modern Southeast Asian Art", "Bodies and Relationships: Selected Works of Lee Sik Khoon", "Picturing Relations: Simryn Gill & Tino Djumini", "Ways of Seeing Chinese Art" and "Responding to the Divide: David Kwo". It was the last one that I enjoyed most, for an obvious reason.

"Responding to the Divide: David Kwo"
Synopsis: From landscapes and figures to flowers and birds, David Kwo painted a variety of subjects interpreted through traditional Chinese brush techniques and Western styles. He is most famous for his portrayal of small animals, especially cats and dogs that became his hallmark.

On display are paintings influenced by Fauvism, the Bauhaus, Cubism and Abstract Expressionism. Kwo’s artistic tendency, the assimilation of Eastern and Western techniques and an integration of the artist’s varied training and influences, lasted a lifetime. Kwo sought to build a bridge between his native and adopted culture that allowed a conciliation of the two. He blended the disciplined art of calligraphic brushstrokes and composition with Western emphasis on freedom, creativity and improvisation.

David Kwo became acquainted with the first Vice-Chancellor of the Singapore university, Dato Lee Kong Chian. In 2003, he donated 105 paintings to the Lee Kong Chian Art Museum of the National University of Singapore. This exhibition features over 50 significant pieces of the late artist. Runs till 1 Dec 07.

There was a section of his paintings titled Small Animals. An extract of the section introduction: "He had a special affinity for all animals, especially cats which he became famous for. His earlier works were in classical black and white but he later experimented with bright playful colours. With ink and deft strokes of his brush, Kwo captured the essence and personalities of cats, dogs and birds." Here are his cats paintings:

Kim was an impromptu creation one summer day in 1957. A few brilliantly executed brush strokes laden with thick ink captured the silhouette and expression of the cat. Its furry body seems to be supported by a long and sinewy tail while its orange slit eyes are hauntingly provocative. After hanging it up on the wall, the artist found himself the target of the cat's relentless gaze, which never once left him. He was so overwhelmed with joy and excitement that he decided to publish copies of his painting. And so, the American public came to know and embrace Kim and its master.

Kim
1957, Ink on paper, 66 x 38 cm

In 1999, Kwo produced four paintings of cats with backgrounds of random geometric shapes in bright colours. They might remind viewers of stained glass art found in churches. Although the multiple hues brighten the entire picture, they also overwhelm the main subjects of the painting.

Three Cats with Blue Eyes
1999, Ink and acrylic on paper, 96 x 73 cm

How does one give a new face to familiar and finite subject? Kwo had been looking for inspiration in other works of art and experimenting with all possible techniques. Up to the early 1980s, Kwo's works were basically rendered in the traditional xieyi (illustrating the subject's meaning) style. From 1984, he started to experiment with colour decoration and filling the entire space. It culminated in the birth of his xieyi + abstract decorative style of expression.

Three Cats
1999, Ink and acrylic on paper, 96.5 x 71.5 cm

Apart from three works produced in the 1950s, Mimi (1983) is the earliest in the 105 donated works. A few strokes were all it took to bring to life the cat's innocence and cuteness. The cat's dark eye circles make its pair of yellow eyes exceptionally bright. It can be said that the spirit of a good work of art lies in the "dotting of the dragon's eyes".

Cat Named Mimi
1983, Ink and acrylic on paper, 28.5 x 33.2 cm

In Cats and Sparrows, a fish seems to have been completely swallowed by a black cat. A brown cat lies on the floor and is been harassed by the black cat and several sparrows. An attempt at a three-dimensional expression has been made here.

Cats and Sparrows
1992, Ink and acrylic on paper, 61 x 53 cm

I did a Google search but couldn't find an official website on David Kwo. At the Museum, I read that he was born in 1919 in Beijing, China. He spent several years in U.S. and taught briefly in Singapore. He died in 2005 of prostrate cancer, aged 86. At the ripe old age of 84, Kwo was still painting (he indicated his age on some of the paintings). I would have wanted to find out why this love for cats, whether he had any cats (if yes: how many, any gingers, what their names were, if he had a favourite), any other cat paintings etc. Too bad I can't paint/draw, otherwise I'd be so inspired to use my girls as models. I'm sticking to photography for now. I'm also keen on ceramics - just wait till I pick up the course. By the way, I took these photos with my handphone, a Sony Ericsson W810i - quality is not too bad.

A Shot at Stardom

Hot from the Press! Literally from the press this time. The Sunday Times published a photo of Skoda and Braun in its "Readers' Pets" column today (24 June, page 13). Ha, ha, I've become a 'xin ma' (ie celebrity's manager)!

It was a wait of almost eight months, wondering if the column is ever going to publish my submission. I submitted this photo back on 1st Nov last year (it remains as my favourite shot of Skoda and Braun):

The coordinator wrote to me two weeks ago asking if I've any of their new photos, a one-liner on their habit to include with the photo and their updated age. I submitted these as well:

I don't have a good shot yet of Skoda, Braun and Mikki together. Maybe we'll send in a solo shot of Mikki the next time.

I thought I'd have to wait a few more weeks and I was uncertain if their photo would really get featured. When I woke up this afternoon, I somehow had a feeling it might be there and asked Grimlock to check out THE column. And he took his own sweet time, flipping through the pages one by one. I was in the kitchen and then heard his excited voice (I had thought one of the girls was caught in some mischief). Yay, Skoda and Braun have made it to the national papers!

Anyone care for their pawtograph? (term coined by ST) :)

Latest Additions

I've expanded my collection of fridge magnets to include the SpongeBob Squarepants characters (Lego magnets). Bought them at a shop in Suntec City (near to the cinemas) for S$14.50. Grimlock enjoys the cartoon.

Close-up...

The display looks better together with the packaging. I stuck them on the bomb shelter door because if I put them up on the fridge, Skoda can't keep her paws off them. And she has a perculiar habit with what she does with small fridge magnets, which is another story.

Full view of the packaging... Can you see what is in the background?

You might have guessed it. We mounted some best shots of Skoda and Braun on almost the entire bomb shelter door (made a huge difference to an otherwise plain-looking, uninteresting door and gave the Cove a touch of character and warmth) . We haven't "updated" it with Mikki's photos yet. Can you see the grey mouse magnet? It is there, all thanks to Skoda's perculiar habit.

My Sun-Kissed, Beautiful Babe

I took this series of shots indoor on a sunny Saturday, 9 June. I came upon this slideshow feature on another blog and that gave me the idea to put this series to good use. The impact is far more satisfactory than if I had presented the photos one by one, in a static manner. And I had a lovely model on-hand. Viola, I'm so pleased with the results/effects! Please join me to admire the beauty of Skoda :)

"A cat pours his body on the floor like water. It is restful just to see him." - William Lyon Phelps

Wild Wild Wet

Last Sunday, 10 June was Bath Day for the girls. We bathe them once every three weeks. I usually take this on, gladly because it's a good way to bond with them. Each has her own preference on how the bathing should go so my handling skills are put to the test.

In the beginning when we only had Skoda, we used to bathe her once weekly. This came about because she was a "chia char bo" (fierce girl) during her early days with us. After her very first bath - the honour was Grimlock's and we used Johnson & Johnson lavender shower cream on her (we hadn't bought her cat shampoo yet), she became subdued and after licking herself dry, she slept so soundly. We were awed by the wonders the bath did for her. We even speculated if the lavender fragrance had any doing with her "transformation". She then was also kept in a room while we were away at work, so we placed a lavendar air freshener in this room, hoping the scent would add to her sweetness quotient. Silly human beings, right? Ok, fast-forward...during Skoda's subsequent vet visit, we were told the frequent baths would strip her coat of its natural oil/shine so we changed the frequency to once every three weeks.

Skoda is the vocal one when it comes to bathing time. Once we start to touch her belly, that's when her "scolding" starts. Sometimes, I wonder if my neighbours think we're trying to murder some cat. And she won't stay still, she walks all over the place. And I've to keep talking to her (that I'm not trying to 'kill' her). When we use the shower head/jet for the final rinse-down, she'll try to swipe the shower head and keep hissing away. Quite energy-consuming to bathe her.

"You can run but you can't hide! Off to the bathroom you go!!"

It was Grimlock's turn to bathe the girls.

Mikki peeks anxiously under the door, hoping to catch a glimpse of the commotion...

Lick, lick, lick...gotta get this water off asap!

Braun is the cooperative one when it comes to bathing time. I normally have her sit on the toilet seat (cover placed down) and she'll stay on it from start to end. No struggle, no "scolding" from her whatsoever. When I use the shower head to rinse-out her belly, she'll even arch up her back so the water can reach that area easily. No sweat!

Ditto for Mikki. She doesn't mind being bathed. A little vocal but manageable. And she is not that big-sized yet so to towel her dry can be quite quickly done.

After they had licked themselves dry, their coat appeared whiter (applicable only for Skoda and Braun) and felt so smooth and fuller, and they smelt so good. I think the bath helped in reducing the animosity between Skoda and Mikki because they now smell the same too :)

Mission PG is a Failure!

Last Sun, 10 June, Grimlock and I bought a box of Vitakraft cat-grass for the girls (costs S$5.80). We thought Braun might benefit most from it because she pukes hairballs on a recurrent basis. I also saw from a blog, this person who successfully grew cat-grass for her cats and how much they enjoyed munching on the grass. Upon reaching home, we eagerly embarked on this project, code-named Mission Plant Grass (PG).

Mikki doing a thorough, initial inspection...

What cat-grass is good for...

Braun supervises the preparation...

The contents...

As per the instruction, I poured water into the box. Guess what? I saw creepy crawlies (tiny bugs and worms) emerging from the seedlings. First, there was one, two, three...and then I stopped counting. I alerted Grimlock on my finding and we decided to discard the box. I placed the box inside a plastic bag, tied it securely and promptly threw it down the rubbish chute. None of the crawlies shall get on to the girls!

The next day, I went back to the pet supplies shop and related my finding to the salesperson. He got me a replacement box, no questions asked. He opened the new box and we didn't spot any creepy crawlies. I was delighted with the good service and went home happily, telling myself this time it ought to work out.

To play safe, we poured out the entire contents to do a thorough filtering. After looking real hard for a while, we found tiny worms. Mission PG ended so abruptly. Sorry girls, no grass munchies for you!

'3' Is Not a Good Number for Movies?

Grimlock and I went to watch Shrek 3 last Sat, 9 June. I didn't find it as entertaining as the earlier parts. Guess it just ain't easy to keep ideas going, keep tickling funny bones and keep the story going. I'm sold on Shrek because I've a soft spot for underdogs and though Shrek is an ogre/giant, I find him so big on charms and so witty.

Grimlock picked up this ZoCard on Shrek 3. The title "The Wait is Ogre" has got me stumped. Can someone please explain to me what it is saying?

I had a good laugh over the four dumb beauties (from left); Snow White, Cinderella, Princess Fiona (nope, I'm not referring to her), Rapunzel and Sleeping Beauty. Over-glamourised in fairy tales, "larger than life" in Shrek 3.

It wouldn't surprise you that I'm drawn to this movie because of Puss in Boots, correct? He is in a close tie with Shrek for my favourite character.

More about Puss in Boots from the movie's website:
The most smooth and debonair tabby this side of Far Far Away, Puss in Boots is one fierce feline. He's an acrobatic cat with a smooth Spanish accent, fearless and unbeatable in combat - unless he gags on a hairball! He has the strength, bravery, and romanticism of Zorro, but in the body of a sweet little kitty cat.

Ever the Don Juan, he often gives Shrek the bachelor's point of view. Once offered a bag of gold in exchange for 'taking care' of Shrek, Puss confidently accepted the task. However, his encounter with Shrek didn't quite go as planned, and as a result the two became fast friends and allies. Shrek soon learns that Puss can be a canny cat to have around, and before you know it, Puss and Donkey are both vying for Shrek's attention. Should Puss' dazzling battle skills and smooth Spanish charm ever fail him, he has another way to get what he wants - he plays the helpless, wide-eyed kitty. Works every time!

Fun Facts about Puss in Boots:

The Puss of Myth and Song
Puss in Boots has a memorable way with words. Here are just a few of his top-quality quotes!
"Ha! Ha! Fear me...if you dare! Hsssssss!"
"Now, ye ogre, pray for mercy from: Puss in Boots!"
"The words of fate have blown on my destiny."
"For once, I must agree with the beast of burden."
"It's Puss, the talking gato!"

Astrological Sign
All I know is that all the planets are always in line for me.

Favourite Song
Anything by Cat Stevens.

Favourite Book
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, To Kill a Mockingbird, Of Mice and Men, and Hey Diddle Diddle the Cat and the Fiddle.

Favourite Food
Sashimi, food I can decapitate.

Hobbies
Napping, scratching furniture, singin', dancin', drinkin', and romancin'.


Puss getting around with his "helpless, wide-eyed kitty" tactic definitely rings a bell. My girls do that ever so often...

Dream, Thy Name is Sweet!

"So sweet that I find you tongue linkin' good!"

Stunning!

Lianhe Zaobao (3 June) - A Los Angeles-based company, Lifestyle Pets Inc. introduced on its website (www.lifestylepets.com) a new cat breed named Ashera, developed by blending two exotic feline bloodlines with a domestic breed of cat. Featuring leopard-like spots and contrasting stripes, the Ashera can reach a weight of thirty pounds (14 kilos).

The website described the Ashera as the world's rarest and most exotic breed of domestic cat and the breed gets along well with children and other pets, and takes well to being walked on a leash. The Ashera commands a whopping price tag of US$22,000 (S$33,700). The company sells not more 100 Ashera per year and it has already sold two such cats (one to a family in the Beverly Hils and another to Moscow).

Last year, a company, Allerca (http://www.allerca.com/) announced having successfully produced the world's first scientifically-proven hypoallergenic cats. These cats allow people with feline allergies to enjoy the pet without suffering from allergic symptoms. These cats are each priced at US$3,950 (S$6,045).

P/S: You should check out the Ashera website for yourself. Beautiful photos on homepage and in the Gallery section. Some interesting facts too in the Information section. Wah, "delivery date from receipt of payment is 9-12 months".

Monday Blues?

Ha, I enjoyed an extended weekend today. I was very busy at work for the last two weeks with a major project. It is finally completed so I decided to be good to myself and take the day off. "To take a break is to take on the longer journey". It probably has more depth if I could put it in Chinese text (I shall go figure out how to do this).

It rained in the late morning. This photo is taken from my master bedroom. Can you tell the short white building in the background is a mosque? It doesn't have the onion-shaped dome on the roof. The flat piece of land is actually a park. Can you see some construction going on in the lower right-hand corner? There will be four blocks of new HDB flats.

Thunders could be heard. Mikki went hiding under the sofa and Braun took cover in the bomb shelter under the storage racks...

"Tell me, what is there to be afraid of?" While taking cover is the SOP for Mikki and Braun on stormy days, Skoda simply "bo chup" and goes about her usual business.

Mikki is lured by the smell of my lunch and emerges from her hiding place to check it out...

It didn't rain for long. Braun came out of hiding, and looking so poised on the SCV cable box...

I heard Braun hackling away. On and off, we've found furball patches on the floor but we've never come close to confirming which of the girls they came from. So this confirms it! But there was some yellow liquid (usually it is transparent) - hope Braun is not falling sick. Must be firm and not give her any of the cod fish treats!

Mikki keeps following me everywhere I go. Here she is, scrutinising my blog. I wonder if she approves of it, ha ha...

Went to watch the movie, "Pirates of the Caribbean - the World's End" with Grimlock in the evening. Not as good as the previous two parts.

That's it for today. Back to work tomorrow. Aye, aye, Captain Mighty Mouse is gonna set sail - into the Land of Sweet Slumber she comes!