Cat owners are well aware that cats have a tumultuous relationship with houseplants, frequently using leaves as unwanted toys when bored. Lim Heng Swee, a Malaysian artist, draws inspiration from this relationship in his new Cats and Plants series of graphic artworks. These simple works, like his earlier project Cat Landscapes, flawlessly blend playful kittens with various natural elements.
While the cat appears as a cactus, succulent, or pointy-eared leaf in some of the works, others have white or black felines actively interacting with the plants in some way. In one picture, Swee ingeniously depicts a cat “scratching” the natural curve of the leaf with its claws. A tall house plant in a pot with a black cat merged with the color and shape of the soil is depicted in another.
Swee’s style is equally basic and cut down, as his compositions rely on simple, geometric elements. Only the most basic features are used to depict cats, flowers, and leaves. This, paired with the limited color pallet, allows his ideas to shine through unhindered.
Swee’s Etsy site sells prints and other cat-themed items, and you can keep up with his current creations by following him on Instagram.
In a series of digital images suitably titled Cats and Plants, Malaysian artist Lim Heng Swee blends cats with nature.
The series also depicts what cats actually behave when they come into touch with real plants…
Lim Heng Swee: Etsy | Website | Facebook | Instagram