My theme began with tracing the origins of how the 'maneki-neko' (beckoning cat) came to be. I discovered an anecdote about a person who was guided by a cat to avoid sudden rain, which I used as the cultural motif's source.
Having lived with cats in the past, I focused on the natural gestures cats show in daily life. Particularly, the grooming gesture of washing their face looked remarkably like beckoning, leading me to the inspiration that this behavior might be the origin of the 'beckoning' gesture. I designed a maneki-neko that captures this natural action.
Cats are the most familiar and beloved creatures worldwide. Through this project, I hope that people attracted to the cat's natural charm and gestures will also develop interest in marine plastic pollution and environmental issues.
