Cats spend much of their day sleeping, stretching in the sun, at times hunting, or just watching the world go by. For a group of Lao artists, those habits have become the inspiration for art.
Life feels busier than ever, and Laos is no exception. Seven artists in Laos have turned to cats to explore what many people seem to be searching for today: a little more freedom, self-acceptance and joy in the ordinary moments of everyday life.
Their exhibition, Like a Cat’s Tiny Life, running until 31 July at The Tamper Coffee & Studio in Vientiane, brings together paintings, illustrations and photography that ask a simple question: what can people learn from slowing down?
Why Cats?
“All seven of us wanted to create a small space filled with warmth through stories about cats. We wanted people to experience life through the artists’ small perspectives on cats,” artist Fanta Keomanila told The Laotian Times.
For him, cats represent independence.
He described them as animals that follow their own way, sleeping and resting when they choose and finding happiness in simple moments such as watching birds or lying in the warm sun, rather than conforming to outside expectations.
Fanta believes those qualities have become especially meaningful as people face lots of pressure in their daily lives. He also believes that cats are often misunderstood.
“They don’t teach us to become lazy or irresponsible,” he said. “They teach us to relax in a busy world, love ourselves more, care about the things that truly matter, and live at a pace that feels comfortable like cats.”
“Sometimes happiness or inspiration might already be around us, just like a small cat,” he said. “For me, cats are the inspiration for my canvas,” he said. “I experiment with watercolor, oil painting, acrylic, and digital painting. They make the work feel approachable, but in that simplicity, there’s always a story that I hope people can connect with.”
Ultimately, Fanta hopes visitors walk away feeling a little calmer than when they arrived.
Meaning in Imperfection
Meanwhile, Phoudthasone “Phoud” Souksompheng explores the same idea from a different angle.
Best known for his doodle illustrations, he said both doodle art and cats always remind him that not everything in life has to be polished or carefully planned.
For him, that’s a lot like life.
“We often spend so much time trying to control everything,” he said. “But many things in life simply cannot be controlled. Sometimes we succeed. Sometimes we don’t. Both are part of life.”
He said people often get caught between thinking about what has already happened and worrying about what’s coming next.
“Doodle lines represent the life we create in the present,” he said. “If we keep thinking about the past, we become afraid to draw the next line. If we worry too much about the future, our hands begin to shake.”
Cats became part of that story because they express emotions in simple ways.
“Cats become the bridge between imagination and everyday life,” he said. “Through their expressions, movements, and quiet personality, they can communicate emotions that are sometimes difficult to explain with words.”
Like Fanta, Phoud hopes people leave with something that stays with them after they walk out.
Despite their different styles, the artists kept coming back to the same idea. In a world where everyone seems to be constantly rushing somewhere, maybe there’s something to learn from a furry friend that’s perfectly happy taking a nap in the sun.
While all artists present a different visual style, they share one common message: in a society where people are constantly rushing, perhaps there is value in slowing down, appreciating ordinary moments, and seeing the world, if only briefly, through the quiet eyes of a cat.
