Why did the Indonesian master paint so many cats, solitary or in twos and threes? He painted cats since the early 1970s, and they all came with emerald green eyes, to make them mysterious, sinister even. Yes, he kept them as pets, it is said, as many as 10. The purring felines were not only close to him, but also afforded a study of their quirks and mannerisms. Black cats, red cats … the colours perhaps expressed the mood and character. The body was often shown rough and textured, not the pampered, pure-breed types with cuddly furs. Maybe, more wild and less predictable. In 'Art and Thoughts of Popo Iskandar' in the book Rupakata, the artist revealed: "Truthfully, in my works, I express more of myself than the subject-matter present." Popo Iskandar was awarded the Anugerah Seni Negara by the Indonesian Government in 1980, and his works are collected by the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum and the National Gallery of Singapore. He cut his teeth in art at the Bandung Institute of Technology, where he came under the influence of Ries Mulder (1909-1973). He had also been guided by Hendra Gunawan and Barli Samitawinata. He held his first overseas solo at The Hague, Netherlands, in 1976. Besides cats, his menagerie included the rooster and leopards, though he had his reclining nudes. Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers hosted a Popo Iskandar exhibition under its Curate banner in 2014, alongside the book launch.