Hello Kitty - is she or is she not a cat?

In light of all the recent controversy about whether the Hello Kitty character is a cat or not, I couldn't resist doing this quick editorial illustration. I found it all rather amusing how such a Pop culture character could get so much press. Even the prestigious New Yorker featured her in their article The truth about Hello Kitty.

My illustration is also a tribute to René Magritte's painting, the "Treachery of Images". His painting attempts to have the viewer question their reality. The painting portrays a large single pipe, and at the bottom of the painting, in French is the text "ceci n'est pas un pipe" (this is not a pipe). Magritte’s point is simple: the painting is not a pipe; it is an image of a pipe.

Much like Magritte, I am questioning the viewer's perception. What is the Hello Kitty character? She looks like a cat, but if she is not a cat , what is she?

Ceci n'est pas un chat (this is not a cat) © Patricia Pinsk

Refer to Artsy’s René Magritte page for further information on this artist. Or, you can check out my Surreal art and illustration Pinterest board:

Follow Patricia Pinsk's board Surreal art and illustration on Pinterest.

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