"Mimicry -Mitsuwana-" by Juuri

This gorgeous piece titled "Mimicry -Mitsuwana-" is by Juuri (Julie Robertson).


You might as well say that I owned this piece as soon as Juuri started working on it. She posted a progress picture on Facebook of just the linework of the girl's face and the base watercolor. It was love at first sight and I immediately contacted Juuri about the piece. I didn't have any idea what she had in mind for the piece but I absolutely loved where the piece was going.


The final piece is based off the Japanese folklore of Nekomata. Nekomata is a Bakeneko (Monster Cat) that has a forked-tail or 2 tails. According to folklore a cat becomes a Bakeneko when it lives for over 10 years, weighs more then one Kan or is allowed to keep a long tail. The Bakeneko has the ability to shape-shift into a human. The Bakeneko is said to sometimes kills their masters or torment them and shape-shift taking on their form. There are good tales as well. One such tale tells of a Bakeneko shape-shifting into a beautiful girl so that the owner could marry it and have children.


In the piece you can see that the cat is a Nekomata having 2 tails that has shape-shifted taking on the form of the woman. A beautiful piece that I am thrilled to have.




Size 24x24 on wood panel.