The cats of Keith Stevens

"Cats of Keith Stevens" is a photo collection produced by late Sinologist Keith Stevens in 1970s Hong Kong.

This collection is the earliest known and most comprehensive ethnographic photo of cats in Hong Kong and Asia.

After Keith's passing in 2015, the collection along with his other research artefacts went to Penang. In 2017, the collection was passed to us and we immediately recognised the signifance of this collection.

In 2018, we curated a world of the photo collection. Starting in Singapore, the exhibtion travelled to Hong Kong and Penang. In each country, the exhibition benefits a local animal welfare organisation. Plans for UK were on hold due to Covid.

In 2021, we start work on a documentary titled "Cats of Keith Stevens"

"Cats of Keith Stevens" exhibition has been featured in:

The Online Citizen	Channel News Asia	96.3 FM
Singapore	Singapore	Singapore
HK01	Mocity	Imoney
Hong Kong	Hong Kong	Hong Kong

Keith Stevens

Keith Stevens (1926 – 2015) was a British civil servant whose career brought him to the Far East in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaya.

Graduating from London University School of African and Oriental Studies (SOAS), Keith was proficient in Mandarin allowing him to research on his 2 parallel interests; Chinese Belief system and cats.

Cats of Hong Kong

With a researcher’s rigour, Keith documented what we believe to be the most comprehensive ethnographic data of cats in 1970s Hong Kong.

Taken from 1973 to 1980, Keith’s photos showed the presence of cats in a wide spectrum of Hong Kong urban landscape.

Keith’s interested in Chinese Belief System cumulated in the publication of “Chinese Gods, The Unseen World of Spirits and Demons”, in 1997.

This work is now an important reference for major museums including the British Museum.

The making of....

Meanwhile, Keith’s ethnographic data of cats awaited discovery.

Thanks to Keith’s long-time friend, the Penang based Ronni Pinsler protected and discovered his collection leading to this opportunity to give cats their rightful place in history.

Through Keith's collection, we get to see a chapter in Hong Kong's history as experienced by the cats.

Cultural symbolism of cats

Without the cultural symbolism of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals, the cats are like animals of the middle path.

They offer companionship, always full of affection and are everywhere. More importantly, they are always there for humans and with lots to offer.

Culturally, cats are neglected without significant cultural symbolism and seldom represented in high culture. It is only in the “age of cuteness” that cats gained social visibility though icons such as the “Hello Kitty”.

Thanks to Keith’s materials, we now have a rare opportunity to cover a gap that the cats truly deserve and to return them to their rightful place in history.

World Tour

We are planning an world tour of Steve's photo collection in UK, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore.

Keith's collection offers an unique opportunity for us to reconsider and to explore the role of cats in our respective societies. More importantly to present them as fellow beings to be loved and cared for.

World Tour Schedule

Through the exhibition, we hope to raise the issue of animal resuce and to promote adoption.

In each country, the exhibition will raise food for a local shelter.

	Country	Date
	Singapore	Sept 2018
	Hong Kong	Nov 2018
	Malaysia	Dec 2019
	UK	Coming soon	TBA

For all media enquries please contact:
info@gold-d.club

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