Inspired by Eastern culture, the popular cat character Hiromita, created by Turkish-Taiwanese contemporary artist ANQI, was presented at the Istanbul edition of the 5th ArtContact Istanbul Contemporary Art Fair: Hiromita: Journey to the Heart’s Calling.
The artist ANQI, who spent her childhood in Taiwan and Turkey and completed her Master’s degree at Yale University in the USA, created the Hiromita character based on the “tile cat/wamao” statues placed on rooftops in China, believed to ward off evil and bring good luck, as well as the comic books she learned Chinese from in Taiwan. Interpreting this Chinese belief, the artist depicts a tiger-spirited cat that devours the inner void created by modern life, returning love and connection. Through Hiromita, ANQI encourages viewers to embrace their individuality and celebrate their uniqueness without bowing to the acceptance of others, emphasizing that our differences make us unique and beautiful.
In 2024, the international art platform Hiromita Project, founded by ANQI, and Tilki Art, founded by Dr. Çağatay Olgun, are collaborating to present Hiromita: Journey to the Heart’s Calling at the 5th ArtContact Istanbul Contemporary Art Fair. The installation, first showcased in Turkey at the 11th ArtAnkara Contemporary Art Fair in February 2025, was met with great admiration and will now be presented in a newly enriched edition adapted to Istanbul’s cultural texture, under the curation of Dr. Çağatay Olgun. The installation, which blends sculpture, painting, ritual, and participatory experiences, invites the audience on both an individual and collective journey.
About Hiromita
In Hiromita: Journey to the Heart’s Calling, ANQI enables the audience to transform their personal desires into physical forms through interactive elements such as the Inner House and the River of Wishes, shaped with colors unique to Istanbul. The River of Wishes transforms into the Sea of Wishes in Istanbul, allowing participants to connect selected fabrics to nets, turning their intentions and goals into collective memory. At the heart of the work are elements designed as gateways and fishing nets symbolizing the Bosphorus, allowing each participant to create their own journey while discovering Istanbul’s multi-layered identity. ANQI mentions that, for this special installation for Istanbul, she blended the colors of the city with the scene from the “Crystal Palace Tales” where the princess first sees Istanbul, a moment that influenced her since childhood. Visitors will have the chance to embark on their own inner journeys in this interactive and multicultural experience, shaped around a large tent sewn by the artist, and will have the opportunity to view Istanbul not just as a city, but as a fairy tale, connecting with the city’s colors and history while creating their own stories.
The installation will meet art lovers at booth B-21 as part of the 5th ArtContact Istanbul Contemporary Art Fair. After being showcased at the ArtAnkara Fair in 2025, the installation will continue its journey with exhibitions, collaborations, and immersive experiences aimed at embracing uniqueness and inspiring meaningful connections, with upcoming exhibitions at the ArtContact Istanbul Contemporary Art Fair and BFM Art Center in Suzhou, China.
