Ellie Iguchi Little cat mini high heels Violet version

16.5×13.5×10cm　Water-based resin, wood, faux fur

From a vivid purple high heel, a kitten quietly peeks out. This work, fromエリー Iguchi's ongoing "High Heels" series, is a humorous piece that merges the disparate motifs of shoes, a symbol of femininity, and innocent, adorable animals.

High heels generally symbolize beauty, longing, and the image of a mature woman. The kitten nestled inside, however, shows a calm expression as if seeking a safe haven, hinting at the existence of one's "true self" hidden beneath a glamorous exterior. This tiny life quietly speaks to the pureness and delicate nature that everyone holds deep within their heart, something they wish to protect, even while playing a social role through adornment.

The color purple has historically symbolized nobility, mystery, and imagination. In this work, its deep hue lends a sense of calm and dignity to the entire piece, and the contrast with the soft faux fur of the kitten creates a pleasing tension between the two worlds of hard artificiality and the warmth of life.

While viewers are inevitably drawn to smile, they are also led to universal questions such as "What is beauty?" and "Can adornment and one's true self coexist?" Through approachable motifs,エリー Iguchi expresses the relationship between our self-expression and inner world in modern society with light humor and poetic sentiment.