Mom and Orange

Dianna Dai

A warm-toned photograph shows an orange tabby cat with light green eyes sitting upright on a rich brown hardwood floor, looking directly at the viewer. To its right, a person with short brown hair is lying on their stomach, facing the cat, wearing a dark blue sweater with a white sailor-style collar and light pink cargo pants. The background features a light gray wall with white baseboards, a large framed painting of a muted cityscape with silhouetted figures, and several potted plants including a large leafy plant and snake plants. A textured beige wallpaper is on the far right.

Mom and Orange explores the relationship between my mother and her ginger cat, Orange. Over the years I've watched their dynamic deepen into something that defies easy description — Orange dictates when she wakes, when she eats, when she walks. I set out to capture this dynamic through photography and storytelling, expecting to find something lopsided or absurd. Instead the images revealed a peaceful, enduring companionship. Whatever control Orange exerts, it seems entirely mutual.

    About The Artist

    A poster with the word 'Inhale' in bold, white, sans-serif font above the word 'Exhale,' which gradually fades from white to translucent. The text is centered on a vertical gradient background that shifts from dark blue-grey at the top to light blue-white at the bottom, all covered by a subtle grainy texture.

    Dianna Dai

    Dianna Dai is an image-maker whose work is rooted in an interest in nature and everyday life. Her love of photography began with film cameras, through which she captures moments imbued with nostalgia. Through her lens, she strives to explore the beauty in everyday life, focusing on the unique stories that unfold around us.

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