CHEN BI: WE CRAWL WITH FOUR PAWS

WE CRAWL WITH FOUR PAWS: THE PRETENDERS IN A CATOPIA

CHEN BI

Ongoing through September 10
Fenwick Gallery

We Crawl with Four Paws is an in-progress mural project featuring the work of Chen Bi, a current MFA student in Mason’s School of Art and Graduate Assistant for Fenwick Gallery. Watch the progress live in Fenwick Gallery or on Instagram @fenwickarts!

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Artist’s Statement:

“We Crawl on Four Paws seeks refuge in the tranquility and simplicity of a pet's life in a world overwhelmed with the complexities of human existence. This mural is an exploration of my desire to momentarily hide from the cacophony of society, seeking solace and comfort in the silent whispers of my cat Sesame's existence. 

“This Catopia is a space that allows us to be authentic, relaxed, and truly free. The intimate moments we share with our pets, often unnoticed, offer a glimpse into a realm untainted by a narrowing understanding of this human-domained planet. The piece is not merely an escape, but also a fantastical transformation - a journey from the biped to the quadruped, from the human to the animal. It gives a tangible form to a yearning which many of us have experienced, but seldom expressed: the dream of becoming a creature untouched by social norms and unburdened by expectations, a creature that lives in the present and finds joy in the most ordinary.

“As I construct this utopia, the contours of reality blur, and the border between human and animal dissolves. It becomes an enchanting world where stress is a forgotten language, and the purring rhythm of contentment becomes our shared song.”

Special thanks to Juan De Bernardinis for lending drawing support and Mason Exhibitions for artist support!