Kitsune "The beauty of the vulnerability"

Kitsune is a Belgian artist from Ghent, one of the most distinctive figures in Belgium's emerging street art scene. Her artistic name is inspired by her favorite Pokémon, "Ninetales," which is based on the Japanese mythological foxes "Kitsune," known for their ability to change shape. Her color palette is instantly recognizable, and she draws inspiration for her dreamlike and surreal universe from people, fauna, and flora, all filtered through the lens of her personal experiences.

In October 2022, she came to Athens to create a large-scale mural, which in Greek translation is titled "The Beauty of Vulnerability." The flower depicted is the peony parnassica, endemic to Greece and a symbol of how vulnerable beauty is in our world. These flowers grow only in very specific places and need strong cold winters to bloom in spring. They also have medicinal properties and have therefore been harvested extensively by humans. Metaphorically, the message is that we must strive hard to achieve maximum balance in our coexistence with nature.

The cat, in turn, is a metaphor for caring for the environment and, at the same time, an ode to the beloved Aegean cats that are found everywhere in our country. It is a black cat because the artist's intention is to counter the superstition that black cats are unlucky, in order to help as much as possible so that they are adopted more often from animal shelters.

For this project, Kitsune worked with the colors of the neighborhood (found around the school) to better harmonize with the environment. As a sweet coincidence, there was also a black mother cat with two black kittens living next to this mural on the school grounds. The artist seeks to connect with the viewer of the work through the gaze of the girl who observes them steadily, calmly, and thoughtfully.

Photos and video by Spyros Chatzikos