Lia & Rosie
ph. Jonathan Llense
In order for her daughter Liv to grow up with a cat, Lia adopted Rosie when she was a kitten. As she blossomed into the family, Rosie punctuated time and space with her presence and secret excursions, establishing her personality and her odd vegetarian inclinations.
Making an appearance
“There is something magical about cats. As soon as I wake up, Rosie appears: she meows softly, purrs, and comes to rest on the bed. She likes to snuggle up to me when I'm reading or watching a film - a way of affirming her presence by diverting my attention - or, when I'm sad or just out of shape, she comes close to me, as if to soothe me. Other times, on the contrary, she sits on the edge of the back of a chair and overlooks my studio (I am a multidisciplinary artist); it's her way of gaining height, majestically. Then she can disappear for hours and reappear only when she feels like it.”
A family history
“Like Rosie, all the animals I was surrounded by as a child (cats, doves, Japanese fish, Siamese fighter fish and even mice) were considered family members, not pets. Before we adopted Rosie, we already had a cat, Yoki, who had no affinity with children; my daughter, Liv, was no exception. I felt bad that Liv was in contact with a cat that avoided her company, so I started looking for a kitten so that Liv could experience the company of a more friendly cat to grow up with. The day before my daughter's birthday I was able to collect Rosie and I presented her to Liv, in a cardboard box with a large ribbon. When she opened it, she jumped with joy. The cat was not afraid, they adopted each other.”
Free feline
“Like any member of the family, Rosie has her own character. When Yoki died last autumn, I thought I would have to get another cat to keep her company; but she seems quite happy to be on her own at last, with space and attention to herself. She is very independent, discreet, sometimes almost shy when there are people around - she needs time to introduce herself. She is free to be where she wants to be and doesn't have to worry about others: when I observe her, I sometimes envy her nonchalance.”
