GUARDIAN CATS
Oil on linen canvas, 81x60cm
The painting, inspired by my own experience and encounter, depicts two cats inside a mausoleum in Lisbon’s Prazeres Cemetery, positioned centrally within the composition. One cat is in a clearly defensive stance, baring its teeth, while the other remains more neutral, adding tension to the scene.
The somber setting of the mausoleum, combined with the cats’ ghostly appearance, evokes a sense of mystery and otherworldliness. The scene suggests a liminal space where the spiritual and physical realms overlap, amplifying the enigmatic atmosphere of Prazeres Cemetery and its connection to the unknown.
The cats are painted differently to enhance the atmosphere of the piece. While the work includes multiple layers, sanding was used between them to create a ghostly, undefined appearance. This technique reinforces the idea of the cemetery as a mysterious place, where the boundaries between the spiritual realm and reality blur, evoking a sense of otherworldliness