The ancient Egyptians had an undeniable and powerful connection to nature and the world around them. They believed cats were magical creatures, capable of bringing good luck to the people who housed them. To honor these treasured pets, wealthy families dressed them in jewels and fed them treats fit for royalty. When the cats died, they were mummified.

Bastet was the goddess of protection, pleasure, and good health. She had the head of a cat and a slender female body. She is the daughter of Ra, the sister of Sekhmet, the wife of Ptah, and the mother of Mihos. Since the Second Dynasty, Bastet was worshiped as a deity – most popular in Lower Egypt –whose shape and powers have changed over the years.

In the Bastet Initiative, Art D’Égypte collaborated with a group of artists to transform this ancient Egyptian symbol through an artistic lens, bringing the ancient Egyptian cat into the present. The hope was that the perceptions of the spectators would also be transformed, making them more aware and present.