99 Patchworks of 9 Lives #21

99 Patchworks of 9 Lives: Kitten Kaliedoscope

Curated Series III by retr0metr0

"99 Patchworks of 9 Lives" is a generative digital project based on the principles of Fauvism and Persian art with the most iconic symbol of pop culture as its subject matter – cats. The "99 Patchworks of Nine Lives" series is a fresh interpretation of the artist's earlier series, "Kitten Kaleidoscope," which featured 99 standalone images of cats. For this new series, the artist selected 27 of those original images and pieced them together to form 99 unique artworks. The series is limited to 99 pieces, out of a total of 19,683 potential combinations (more information on artist website).

The Fauvists were a group of early 20th century painters who rejected the traditional approach to color and favored a vibrant palette and simplified, distorted forms to convey a sense of movement and emotion. Elements of Persian art lend itself beautifully to Fauvism due to the art form's use of intricate patterns, created using a wide range of colors. The project merges the two through the contrast of cool and warm hues and formation of decorative abstract compositions with feline figures.

The repeated use of the number 9 is a reference to the common belief that cats have nine lives, a metaphor for the resilience and survival instincts of cats.

retr0metr0 is a San Francisco based artist who works at the intersection of global cultures, art movements and technology.