With his eyes firmly on the work of Martin Parr, young British photographer Jack Kenyon documents the more bizarre aspects of society. From feline beauty shows to giant vegetables, as well as prom and vacationing, both with a British twist. The saturated colors and set lighting Kenyon employs ironically underscore the British eccentricity that is always just around the corner. What differentiates Kenyon from master Parr is a careful construction of the image, from posed portraits to less instinctive composition. But let’s find out more about the Cat Worship project, which documents all the quirks of the Supreme Cat Show, a feline exhibition organized by the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy and which gave rise to all his future production.

The British love cats

In feline exhibitions, but generally in all animal exhibitions, extravagance is not to be missed. Jack Kenyon’s Cat Worship photo project explores the peculiar relationship humans have with domestic animals, in this case cats, all with a strictly British twist. «In 2019, I made my first trip to the Supreme Cat Show. I went there on impulse and enjoyed capturing the extravagant cages and perfectly coiffed cats. The use of bright lights gave the images a note of humor, which helped set the trajectory for many of my subsequent projects,» Kenyon tells us, who in 2023 decided to return for a second session of shooting.

«The exhibit was exactly as I remembered it,» he explains, «only this time the place was filled with cardboard silhouettes of our new King and his family jewels, attached to many of the cat cages. The situation was surreal, a true testament to our enduring fascination with these regal creatures.» With this project Kenyon’s unique gaze, always focused on the absurdity of everyday life, is evident.

Courtesy Jack Kenyon