Henri Guette & Claude
ph. Amedeo Abello
Built on necessarily non-verbal - and very effective - communication, Henri and Claude's life together is ritualised, joyful, symbiotic and sometimes even professional.
Furry creature
I grew up in a family which loved dogs, and each member of my family had a favourite species: Labrador, German shepherd, poodle, Bouvier des flandres. But I also grew up with, or nurtured, a special affinity for cats, who fascinated me. My friend adopted Claude at the end of the first lockdown by picking her up from a foster home. When Claude arrived she was just weaned and very fearful, I think she was clutching both my hands and she was a sight to behold as she had ringworm. You could even say she looked like a Gremlin. Since then she has been my partner!
Feline company
I am an art critic and curator: I write for different media or poetry for myself, I do the occasional broadcast and photography. I spend a lot of time working from home and Claude has accustomed herself to my presence, to being accompanied at all times. I only have to move to another room for her to follow me. I think that all my business meetings have included her: she is the first to show up on video. She always finds a place on the desk, even if it means dropping a few things. Unfortunately, I still haven't managed to get her to stop eating my papers, which has become a handicap in the long run.
Body language
I have developed an animal way of communicating with Claude: when I play with her, I get down on all fours, lie down on the ground in front of her to look at her,... I am also very sensitive to her facial expressions and respond to her meows: her morning meows, at breakfast time, are not the same as those that just demand attention. She is very affectionate, very connected to us. When I'm away from her for a trip or whatever, I feel a real void and I like to imagine her in her favourite corners, curled up in a ball. It soothes me and makes me want to come home.
