FUR COATS AND BACKPACKS
“Cross shallow rivers as if they are deep.” -Michio Hoshino
"Fur Coats and Backpacks" is a series of portraits of traveling cats, each accompanied by a small haiku-like poem. Mari began this project not long after moving to Seattle. While being blown by new winds, she started to feel the presence of these fluffy little beings with a traveler’s spirit, as if they came to gently stay close to her heart... or perhaps she was longing for such cozy beings herself. As if simply standing there in stillness, the presence of traveling cats gently nestled into the depths of her heart.
This journey began with impulses, inspirations, a deep wanderlust, and the loneliness and melancholy carried within her. As Mari continued the series, sweet requests began to arrive. From kindred souls carrying the traveler’s spirit dreaming to step into the paws of a travel cat themselves, or wishing their beloved furry companions could embark on such adventures. These heartfelt wishes and their stories blossomed into custom portraits. As the years passed by, countless unique fluffy backpackers had set off into the world.
This whimsical collection, published as a book by Chin Music Press in 2022, invites us into a world where we can feel the wind blowing through each soul. The exhibition “Travel Cats and I” was held at the Seattle Japanese Garden under the May–June sunshine of 2024.
water color on paper // 9" x 12" // 2011-2024
