Four years after the first issue, The cat did it vol. 2 is now out and includes 77 pictures of cats and graffiti in Athens; more pages, more contents, more graffiti!
I am glad to announce that the photo zine TCDI2 has been published, supported by Urban Lives and available on its shop online. This project represents a new chapter of a long and passionate photo documentation of the city of Athens and, in particular, of its underground culture and graffiti scene. As explained in the introduction, this volume is the result of a more accurate and aware photo report. Although “all the cats are beautiful” (ACAB, as many people had been writing in the last years on the walls of Athens) and they are still at the centre of attention, the main purpose is to show and support as much as possible the local graffiti scene.
The photo zine will be soon available on Big Cartel, but you can already book an in person sale in Athens!
TCDI2: what’s new
Once again, and thanks to the random “collaboration” of cats, TCDI2 presents a significant selection of pictures of graffiti in Athens, including pieces painted in the last years but also some old gems such as some old pieces by Barns and a piece by the Udk crew painted in 2014.
Something else that’s new in this issue, apart from the focus on graffiti writing and the biggest amount of pages and pictures, is that it is divided into chapters. This solution, in fact, allows to show a bigger variety of contents and topics, including graffiti with a social and political meaning or message and even the football’s hooligans once. The chapter “Politicats” is definitely one of the most important; its cats, real or painted, come with anarchist and antifa graffiti and phrases which refer to current facts and current hot topics in Athens, like rising rents, gentrification or the migration policy. These kinds of messages are so many that there could be a spin off photo zine named Politicats in the future… let’s see!
Fun facts & behind the scene
Working on TCDI2 has been fun but also a passionate work and commitment. Over the last 3 years more than 300 pictures have been taken, both during very long walks strolling around neighborhoods with the main purpose of taking pics for this photo zine, and also during everyday life. To the second category, for example, belong all the pictures taken during nights with friends or while tagging or painting graffiti. It was actually amazing how the cats where sometimes observing the action or even taking part of it; for example, once, during a long walk tagging around Ano Patisia with Themis (Afro crew, Pse) a sweet friendly cat had been following for the whole time, playing and waiting to be pet.
Another fun fact; since many people were informed about the project, some friends have been offered to provide their own cats to model for the pictures… and that was actually a very funny idea, but unfortunately it wouldn’t respect the true and spontaneous nature of an urban photo documentation.
Talking about “more serious” behind the scene, the making of the photo zine has been the opportunity to explore new places and neighborhoods far from the center, like Ano Patisia, Pagrati, Kolonos and Kallithea, and also for some considerations about stray cats. In fact, unlike the center of Athens where citizens, communities and volunteers’ associations take care of them, feeding them or even providing them shelters or medical care, in some other areas it’s easy to see stray or feral cats sick or injured. So, this time, in most of the TCDI2’s photo reports, tags and stickers were spread out along with some cat food and water.
One last interesting fact has to do with the photo cover. This picture, taken in Exarchia in July 2021 and shared on Instagram in December 2022, had been “stolen” and posted without credits right after, by an account called Radical Graffiti, followed by 500k people. Their post received around 5000 likes and several compliments… Well, beyond the numbers themselves, what was frustrating was that they never replied or cared about the copyright, also because that photo was taken in a period when the migration and asylum situation in Greece was fully debated and “fuck borders” writings on walls were all over Athens. For all these reasons, this photo deserved a special place in the zine, also to show to the readers that the project is not only about some colorful walls and some cute cats.
Future projects and presentations
So, to sum up, The Cat did it vol. 2 will show you a chaotic, rebellious, activist, creative and alternative side of Athens, where people are not afraid to express themselves and many cats will walk next to you, sometimes seeking attention.
Considering that something like a hundred photos have not been included in this issue, there might be a third one. Well, either way it would be amazing to receive some feedbacks, some tips and maybe even some pictures of cats and graffiti in Athens shared on social media with the hashtag #TCDI2.
And, of course, it would be great to meet up during the presentations… stay tuned for updates!
Please note: Urban Lives, as an independent editorial project, blog and shop online, wants to support more and more projects like this one
TCDI2 in short:
A5 (15×21 cm)
32 pages
77 pictures
100 copies
Price: 12 €
A project by Kiyose, supported by Urban Lives
Layout by Davide Armento
Printed in Athens, Greece
October 2024
