Visual Culture Database Form ARTE344 Spring 2020

Provider: Danielle Biel

Number:
4
Big
Idea/Subject:
Fantasy
Major Theme:
Folklore
Medium/
Presentation:
Unknown,
appears as if it
is watercolor
on paper
Visual
Components:
Color, line, text,
composition
Category:
Fine Arts
Pop art
Pop culture
Non-art
Authorship: Ayako Ishiguro
Title: Unknown, Cats Riding Catfish
Original Japan
Location:
Description/Int Close to the middle of the page, slightly off centered favoring the
erpretation bottom, the figure is placed. The main figure is quite literally a “cat”fish,
meaning the typical form of a catfish is painted, yet the facial features
are that of a domestic house cat. The body is a cool gray, and the fins and
whiskers a dull sky blue. The expresson on the main figure’s face is
angry, and it has its mouth open. There is no obvious water the catfish is
in, besides for indication of rippled movement around the fins and tail.
The peculiar part of this image is not the figure itself, but the three
additional figures riding on the back of the catfish. In order, there is a
white kitten, black kitten, and another white kitten holding onto the
back of the fish. They all have bulging yellow eyes, and looked shocked,
like they’re hanging on for dear life. In the top left corner, there is text in
Kanji characters, and the bottom right, the artist’s “seal” which is
typically found on all Japanese block prints.

The artist, Ayako Ishiguro, uses cats in almost all of her illustrations. She
ties them into traditional Japanese folklore called “Yokai” which to us in
 the United States, would be similar to Bigfoot, the Jersey Devil,
Mothman, and other cryptid creatures. These Yoaki were often depicted
in traditional Japanese Ukiyo-e woodblock prints, showing their
interference in everyday life. Ishiguro is taking much inspiration from
these woodblocks and putting her own spin on the subject. Her art is
whimsical, but also can have an underlying feeling of horror and dread.
This particular work makes the viewer feel uneasy, and there is no
direct background, the catfish is basically floating and not ground to
anything. It is almost like a dream sequence, or seeing an image in a fog
and only being able to make out a main form. The uneasy mood is also
anchored by the catfish’s passengers, who appear to not be enjoying the
ride. It is up for interpretation where this image takes place, or where
the figures are going. This artist is most well known in Japan, and there
are not many resources with information about her and the translations
of her art on the Internet, but that just makes me even more curious
about her work.
Use in This piece can be used as an introduction to a mythology project, as well
Teaching: as an example of combining new an old styles – this particular example
of a contemporary artist being inspired by historical styles. Many of the
artist’s pieces overlap with student interests. Animals, foreign cultures,
and monsters to name just a few. It might be interesting to do an entire
unit on “monsters of the world” and viewing art of mythological
creatures from many different countries.

Discussion Questions:
 What are some United States mythological creatures you have
heard of?
 (Introduction) Does anyone know what country this piece might
have been created in?
 Have you seen any woodblock prints before? What can you think
of that uses a similar technique as a woodblock print?
 What feelings does this piece invoke in you?
Source: https://soranews24.com/2015/09/10/cute-collection-of-cats-in-the-yokai-
world-features-magical-powers-gods-and-flying-catfish/