カトリーヌ・ロングリー

Katherine Longly

CAT ISLAND BLUES takes us to Aoshima, a tiny island just one kilometer long, bathed by the waters of the Seto Inland Sea. At its peak in the 1940s, the island had nearly 900 inhabitants, most of whom made their living from fishing. The population then rapidly declined. By 2013, the island had, somewhat reluctantly, become a popular attraction for tourists from across Japan — and even the world — due to its large cat colony. Today, only three elderly people and around forty aging felines remain. But what happened on Aoshima?

In CAT ISLAND BLUES, Katherine Longly recounts her experience on this island: from the surprise at the gap between the images posted by tourists — which had initially drawn her there — and the reality, to the deep attachment she developed to the place over the course of her visits, across several years. She tells a fragile and singular story — that of the humans and cats of Aoshima.

This narrative echoes the profound demographic changes transforming contemporary Japan and also raises broader questions about the impact of overtourism, end-of-life choices, and the ways we share the world with other species. Above all, CAT ISLAND BLUES seeks to preserve the memory of an island with a unique fate, just before it disappears.

In terms of materiality, the project brings together original photographs and archival documents gathered from local historians and librarians in Ehime. These archives are not secondary; they stand alongside the photographs as a key part of the work. Shown in dialogue, images and documents build a narrative through clues and traces, inviting visitors to piece together the island’s story in their own way — as if walking through Aoshima themselves. This narrative construction is an important element in Katherine Longly’s artistic langage. The exhibition also includes images of the last cats, rendered with a spectral yet dignified presence — avoiding pity or sentimentality, and respecting the viewer’s sensibility.