15 presents an exhibition that is a hopeful story of resilience projected on to companion cat.

It’s been almost 15 years since I adopted Hawaii, who already had that paradise name at the shelter. 15 years of ups and downs and a lot of drama. 15 years of glory, lessons, pain, suffering, a new beginning, followed by triumph. During those years I’ve changed affiliations, homes, even personalities and continents. But since I had remained single, my loyal companion was my cat Hawaii. As I was archiving Hawaii’s photos, and looking at the past 15 years, I find each year’s lessons and themes. When I look closely, it is as if I can find those messages in Hawaii’s little faces.

In this show, I have created pieces out of the messages I’ve shared with Hawaii from 2008 to 2022. And since Hawaii can’t speak, of course these messages are my projections on to her. Hence, I use AR technologies to project the messages on to the printed pieces so that the audience can experience them at first hand. Hawaii, now more than 17 years old, was born before the smartphone was invented. And now she communicates the story of resilience to us through the metaverse. Thus time passes, from the past to the present and to the future.