Louis Wain – Exhibition Catalogue | Lanikaverse Gallery, London City, Secondlife
A Cat in a Sea of Flowers
Description:
A sleek black-and-white cat gazes attentively to the left, surrounded by an intricate field of brightly colored blue, purple, and orange flowers.
Artistic Note:
The vibrant floral pattern contrasts with the cat’s composed profile, creating a striking balance between natural exuberance and feline stillness. This work highlights Wain’s deep fascination with decorative surfaces and patterns.
Exhibition Text:
In this almost meditative composition, Louis Wain brings together realism and stylization. The cat’s alert gaze amidst a sea of blossoms evokes quiet curiosity, inviting viewers to consider the inner lives of his feline subjects.
Cat Stalking
Description:
An orange tabby crouches low in tall grass, moving stealthily through a sunny, flower-filled garden.
Artistic Note:
This painting captures the essence of feline behavior with dynamic body language and vivid natural detail. The light and shadow interplay brings energy and depth to the scene.
Exhibition Text:
Here, Wain steps into the wild instincts of the domestic cat. “Cat Stalking” reflects his ability to portray action and intention with humor and precision—reminding us that even the gentlest cat holds a predator’s grace.
Reconciliation
Description:
Two nearly identical tabby cats sit side by side with wide, amused smiles. Their postures and expressions suggest a moment of peace and mutual understanding.
Artistic Note:
Wain often imbued his feline characters with complex emotional narratives. This image, with its mirrored figures and warm color tones, communicates affection and restored harmony.
Exhibition Text:
In this gentle and humorous scene, Wain turns a moment of emotional resolution into art. The title “Reconciliation” adds narrative depth, transforming simple symmetry into a subtle story of forgiveness.
A Cat with her Kittens
Description:
A wide-eyed mother cat cradles three kittens tightly against a background of blooming flowers. The kittens, each in different colors, peek out from her protective embrace.
Artistic Note:
This image blends emotional expressiveness with bold coloration and pattern. The oversized eyes and tightly grouped composition convey a strong sense of maternal vigilance.
Exhibition Text:
A touching symbol of protection and care, this work speaks to the emotional core of Wain’s art. In a style that borders on the surreal, “A Cat with her Kittens” portrays love, anxiety, and closeness in a single powerful frame.
Cat in a Rainbow
Description:
A fluffy, wide-eyed cat stares directly at the viewer, framed by vibrant concentric rings of color resembling a rainbow aura.
Artistic Note:
This piece is a vivid example of Wain’s later style, where radiant colors and psychedelic patterns began to dominate his compositions. The symmetrical, hypnotic effect draws attention to the emotional intensity in the cat’s gaze.
Exhibition Text:
“Cat in a Rainbow” reflects Wain’s evolving vision as both artist and patient. Bold, abstract backgrounds meet the familiar feline form, creating a tension between clarity and chaos—a testament to both his creativity and inner world.
Black Cats in the Snow
Description:
Three black cats sit quietly in a snowy landscape, their backs turned toward the viewer. One set of pawprints trails across the white ground, adding a quiet sense of movement.
Artistic Note:
Minimalist and contemplative, this work uses stark contrast between dark figures and blank space to create a peaceful winter mood. The simplicity of the composition suggests stillness, mystery, and presence.
Exhibition Text:
This poetic scene shows Wain at his most restrained. “Black Cats in the Snow” invites interpretation—it could depict companionship, solitude, or quiet observation. The open space encourages viewers to pause and reflect.
Flowers for the Duchess
Description:
A formally dressed cat in a plumed hat presents a small bouquet, standing against a pastoral background with another feline figure faintly visible in the distance.
Artistic Note:
Wain often anthropomorphized cats with the mannerisms and social gestures of Edwardian society. Here, the gesture of floral gifting becomes a charming theatrical act, full of humor and romantic suggestion.
Exhibition Text:
In this whimsical courtship scene, Wain draws on Victorian conventions of politeness and charm. The elaborate costume and expressive pose of the “duchess” reinforce his ability to tell complex social stories with only feline actors.
Cheeky Mouse
Description:
Two cats lie curled up together, while a tiny mouse boldly approaches from the corner of the room. One cat appears to notice, but remains calm.
Artistic Note:
The contrast between the restful cats and the daring mouse introduces a playful tension. The warm, subdued palette gives the scene a cozy atmosphere despite the implied chase.
Exhibition Text:
“Cheeky Mouse” highlights the balance of stillness and suspense that defines many of Wain’s quieter works. Viewers are left to wonder whether the cats will pounce—or let the mouse go unbothered.
Ginger Tom
Description:
A soft, naturalistic portrait of a ginger tabby cat with green eyes, shown against a light, painterly background. The cat’s fur is rendered in fine, flowing strokes.
Artistic Note:
This piece demonstrates Wain’s strength in observational drawing. Without costumes or comedic elements, the image focuses entirely on feline beauty and presence.
Exhibition Text:
“Ginger Tom” is one of Wain’s most sincere works—less stylized, more intimate. It reminds us that beyond whimsy, Wain was a skilled animal portraitist who could capture individuality with restraint and grace.
Having Fun at Party
Description:
A lively group of cats sits around a dinner table, engaged in animated conversation and merriment. Teacups, plates, and bottles complete the scene.
Artistic Note:
This composition bursts with personality. Each cat displays a unique expression, contributing to a sense of narrative depth and character interaction.
Exhibition Text:
In this joyful gathering, Wain blends animal caricature with sharp social observation. The scene parodies human group dynamics with warmth and wit—inviting us to see ourselves in his feline world.
The Bachelor Party
Description:
Five male cats are seated at a long table, surrounded by drinks, cards, and smoke, their expressions ranging from amused to sly.
Artistic Note:
Here, Wain delves into the subculture of gentlemanly leisure. The subdued tones and frontal composition emphasize camaraderie, mischief, and subtle tension.
Exhibition Text:
“The Bachelor Party” is a playful yet ironic commentary on male social bonding. Through minimal props and sharp expressions, Wain conveys a full evening’s story in a single captured moment.
Cat in Holly
Description:
A wide-eyed white cat with bold blue and black stripes smiles from within a lush thicket of holly leaves and berries, set against a vivid red background.
Artistic Note:
This work exemplifies Wain’s more surreal and bold phase, where his use of contrasting color and stylized facial features created a sense of cheerful intensity.
Exhibition Text:
“Cat in Holly” radiates joy and visual energy. Whether seen as festive or eccentric, the image showcases Wain’s fearless use of color and pattern, pushing the boundaries of feline portraiture.
Cats in a Garden
Description:
Two cats face each other in a blooming garden, surrounded by tall flowers. Their body language suggests conversation or curiosity.
Artistic Note:
Wain captures interaction without anthropomorphizing the cats with clothing—relying instead on posture and eye contact to suggest relationship. The naturalistic setting enhances the intimacy of the moment.
Exhibition Text:
“Cats in a Garden” presents a quiet domestic encounter, full of suggestion and subtle emotion. It reflects Wain’s ability to animate even simple settings with narrative possibilities and feline sensitivity.
Cats Tea Party
Description:
A group of cats, richly dressed, enjoy a formal tea indoors. Teacups, saucers, and ornate wallpaper complete the cheerful setting.
Artistic Note:
Wain’s love of British social rituals is on full display here. The rich detail, decorative patterns, and animated poses make the scene both humorous and sophisticated.
Exhibition Text:
This lively gathering is more than cute—it’s a satire of Edwardian manners through feline theatre. Wain invites us to laugh gently at ourselves through the mirror of cats at play.
The Monocle
Description:
A long-haired cat, seen in profile, wears a monocle and gazes with focused detachment. The image is rendered in soft, meticulous pencil strokes.
Artistic Note:
Understated and elegant, this drawing demonstrates Wain’s technical skill and subtle humor. The use of a monocle adds personality without overstatement.
Exhibition Text:
With refined simplicity, “The Monocle” shows Wain’s talent for imbuing his subjects with individuality. The illustration blurs the line between character study and caricature with quiet charm.
Famous Tenors
Description:
Three standing cats in matching blue bows appear mid-performance, holding sheet music and wide-eyed with expression.
Artistic Note:
The repetition of form and synchronized poses give the piece a comical musical rhythm. Wain uses minimal background to focus attention on the theatrical moment.
Exhibition Text:
“Famous Tenors” transforms cats into performers, poking fun at concert traditions. It’s a delightful example of how Wain used rhythm, costume, and character design to entertain and enchant.
A Head Study of a Tabby Cat
Description:
A realistic head-and-shoulders portrait of a tabby cat against a plain background, rendered in soft, painterly strokes.
Artistic Note:
Unlike his more stylized or abstract works, this portrait focuses on anatomical accuracy and expression, showing Wain’s grounding in classical technique.
Exhibition Text:
This dignified portrait offers a glimpse into Wain’s quieter artistic side. “A Head Study of a Tabby Cat” shows that behind the humor, he remained a deeply skilled and sensitive observer of feline form.
Mother Cat with Fan and two Kittens
Description:
An elegantly dressed mother cat sits with a fan in her lap while two lively kittens play at her feet in a sunny garden setting.
Artistic Note:
This image blends domestic harmony with theatrical detail. The mother’s composed posture contrasts with the joyful movement of the kittens, creating balance and warmth.
Exhibition Text:
Wain captures the spirit of family life through anthropomorphic play. “Mother Cat with Fan and Two Kittens” is both charming and tender—an affectionate nod to Victorian ideals of motherhood.
The Bride and Groom
Description:
A black male cat and a white female cat pose together as a newlywed couple, complete with bow tie, bouquet, and solemn expressions.
Artistic Note:
The contrast between the two figures emphasizes duality—light and dark, masculine and feminine—while the stiff pose parodies formal portraiture conventions.
Exhibition Text:
With gentle humor and elegant execution, “The Bride and Groom” transforms a moment of human ritual into a memorable feline tableau. Wain’s cats don’t just imitate people—they become them, with grace and wit.
Holed in One
Description:
Two cats are mid-game on a golf course. One cat is frozen in a triumphant pose, having just completed a successful shot, while the other observes with club in paw.
Artistic Note:
Wain’s attention to body language and motion brings this scene to life. The lightly sketched background and exaggerated feline gestures enhance its comedic effect.
Exhibition Text:
“Holed in One” is a witty take on sportsmanship and leisure. As always, Wain delights in reinterpreting human pastimes through the whimsical lens of cat society.
Cats Bathing in the Sea
Description:
Several cats wearing old-fashioned swimsuits splash and play at the seaside, while one cat stands with a towel and camera.
Artistic Note:
This image captures group dynamics and physical movement with great charm. The striped bathing costumes add a nostalgic, humorous touch.
Exhibition Text:
With joyful energy and seaside mischief, “Cats Bathing in the Sea” exemplifies Wain’s playful imagination. It is both a parody of Edwardian beach culture and a celebration of carefree delight.