Charlie Stein

"Familiar" is a work of art that captures the essence of a sleek, shiny little black cat. This piece draws deeply from the rich vein of witchcraft lore, where the black cat serves as the quintessential "familiar," a mystical companion providing witches with both protection and supernatural aid.

The black cat, with its enigmatic presence, has been a potent symbol throughout art history, from its reverence in ancient Egypt to its eerie allure in Renaissance paintings. Folklore often depicts black cats as symbols of luck and fortune. In Chinese folklore, black cats are good omens. In Japan, black cats promise new journeys or luck with money. In many African and Native American stories, black cats guard and provide for the home.

In the contemporary art world, the black cat stands as a powerful motif, bridging the familiar and the uncanny. Artists like Cindy Sherman and Matthew Barney have explored themes of identity and transformation, often invoking the animal form to challenge perceptions of self and other. Pierre Huyghe’s work frequently incorporates living creatures and environments to explore themes of transformation and the intersection of the natural and artificial. In "Familiar," the gleaming black cat becomes a mirror reflecting our deepest fears and desires, a symbol of both domestic comfort and untamed mystery.

This artwork speaks to the duality inherent in the concept of the familiar. On one hand, the cat is a symbol of homeliness, curled up in a sunbeam, an intimate part of daily life. On the other, it represents the unknown, the nocturnal predator slipping through shadows, embodying the tension between what we know and what lies beyond our understanding.

The shiny, almost otherworldly surface of the cat in "Familiar" invites viewers to ponder the nature of the familiar. This tension between the domestic and the ferocious is at the heart of this piece, provoking thoughts about what we hold close and what we fear.

The tattoo acts as a personal familiar, a constant reminder of our negotiation of the mundane in relation to the magical.

"Familiar" is a contemplation on the essence of companionship and the shadowy realms of the psyche. It's an exploration of how the most common symbols can carry the weight of profound dualities, challenging an audience to look beyond the surface and delve into the deeper connections that shape our understanding of the world around us.