Arnaud Quercy – The Cat of Istanbul in “Dans la Jungle du Douanier Rousseau”, Paris

Arnaud Quercy The Cat of Istanbul – Variations 2 Ceramic on Ceramic 16 × 16 × 40 cm | 1.8 kg | 2023 Arnaud Quercy Creations / AQC0460 Certificate of authenticity N° 20231231-0047 arnaud-quercy-creations.com Exhibited in: Dans la Jungle du Douanier Rousseau Profils et Reliefs, Atelier d’Arts de la Butte aux Cailles Paris, France | 15–16 October 2023 Exhibition Statement Presented during the Dans la Jungle du Douanier Rousseau exhibition in Paris, The Cat of Istanbul – Variations 2 by Arnaud Quercy evokes both the wildness and mystique of one of the world’s most iconic urban animals. Sculpted in ceramic, the piece strips the feline form down to its essential geometries, combining cubist abstraction with tactile materiality. This sculpture is part of an ongoing exploration into the expressive potential of animal form. Here, the cat becomes more than a subject—it becomes a city’s voice. Its proud solitude, quiet rebellion, and omnipresence in Istanbul’s streets serve as metaphors for coexistence between tradition and modernity. With angular contours, earthy textures, and a totemic verticality, The Cat of Istanbul appears almost archaeological—like a forgotten artifact unearthed from the layers of time and story that define the city. Quercy invites the viewer to contemplate not only the animal, but the unseen tensions and harmonies of urban life it represents.