Description
‘Able Seacat Simon’ by Cassandra Kim
Artist: Cassandra Kim
Title: ‘Able Seacat Simon’
Medium: Acrylic and oil on birch panel
Dimensions: 6″ x 4″
Framing: Framed in a gold wood frame with a vintage brass plaque (frame size: 11.5″ x 9″)
Year of Creation: 2023
Artwork Will Ship From: USA
About the Artwork:
“I came across a story about a hero military cat and from the late 1940’s named Seacat Simon and I was curious to learn more about him. After I read more up on him I had to paint him. Simon was snuck aboard a British warship the ‘HMS Amethyst’, after he was found malnourished and wandering a dockyard by one of the crew in Hong Kong in 1948. He quickly found his way into the hearts of the whole crew. In 1949 Simon barely survived the ‘Yangtze Incident’ in which his ship took 50 direct hits, but managed to survive. Despite a passing Navy ship’s attempt to pull the ship to safety, the ship and crew were left stranded aboard the ship for almost 10 weeks. The conditions in that region were hot and humid, which is the perfect environment for a rat infestation- which is extremely dangerous especially with a dwindling supply of food for the crew. In spite of shrapnel wounds to his legs and burns to his back and face, Simon was often all that stood between the rats and the crew’s essential supplies. The rats were said to be fierce and brutal, biting many of the crew members- which could potentially spread disease too. Simon took on the difficult task of going after the rats. One partially vicious rat was named nicknamed Mao Tse-tung, who carried out repeated attacks on the shrinking food supplies. When Simon killed it, the crew were so impressed they promoted Simon to ‘Able Seacat’ in recognition of his achievement. As the weeks went by, Simon continued protecting supplies and boosting the morale of his injured shipmates’ often accompanying the Maintenance Officer on his daily rounds. Following this incident, Simon became an instant celebrity, celebrated in British and world news, and presented with Dickins Medal which as of 2023, Simon is the only cat to win the award. Tragically, while in quarantine, Simon contracted a virus and, despite the attentions of medical staff and thousands of well-wishers, died on November 28th, 1949 from a complications of the viral infection caused by his war wounds. Hundreds, including the entire crew of HMS Amethyst, attended his funeral at the PDSA Ilford Animal Cemetery in east London.
I created this portrait from black and white photos I found (so I did some guessing on eye color), and his uniform is accurate to the naval position and era. I also had a plaque made by a local engraver for this piece on vintage brass so he could be remembered properly.” – Cassandra Kim
About the Artist:
(Artist Statement)
Cassandra Kim is a contemporary artist whose paintings explore the unique personalities and characteristics of animals and reflect a lifelong love of traditional art. Inspired by the master painters of the past, she seeks to put her own slightly absurd surreal twist on art by replacing animals with people. Pairing an unexpected animal with an image from past societies creates a visual paradox that inadvertently humanizes the portraiture and often makes people smile. The use of humor is a valuable way to break down barriers between people and art. She works in the combination of acrylic and then oil on board, and restores reclaimed antique and vintage wood frames she finds for her work. Each piece is carefully crafted to capture the essence of the animal, and to highlight their individual traits and quirks. Her hope is that her work will inspire others to see animals in a new light, and to appreciate the beauty and diversity of the animal kingdom through her imagined society; while reminding the viewers of the deep connection they experience and all share.
Cassandra lives in Richmond, Virginia with her husband and two children. She is a 2003 BFA Illustration graduate from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is the 2013 recipient of the Klondike Gold Rush National Park and Chilkoot Historical Site artist residency. After working commercially as an artist for 14 years, Cassandra turned her focus to her personal art full-time in 2018. She has since exhibited in galleries across the United States and internationally.