This mural is a clever invocation of new-age culture.  The cat bears a “third eye,” a location in the center of the forehead that is said to be a gate to higher realms of consciousness. It also wears a nose-ear chain from which is suspended a swing with a yellow canary, which the cat is ignoring as part of its spiritual journey. Cats are considered sacred in many cultures, including ancient Egypt, Norse mythology (where they are consecrated to the goddess Freya), and Japan (as an incarnation of the god/dess of mercy), but in Christianity cats were seen as the Devil–as is new-age spirituality.

The mural was created during an informal artist’s residency in Indianapolis in the summer of 2019.

Jules Muck, aka MuckRock, is a street artist from England who learned her craft in the 1990s from Lady Pink and many other legends of graffiti and hip-hop culture.  After working extensively in New York, she moved to Venice, California in 2008.  She currently works nationally and internationally, with major works in various locations including Miami’s famous Wynwood district, produced with Art Basel Miami. MuckRock’s street works are both invited and unsanctioned, and she has created work for gallery exhibitions.