Ari Marcopoulos: The Cat

Published by the Swiss independent press Nieves in 2007, The Cat is a quintessential example of the zine-inspired photobook movement that defined much of the indie publishing scene in the early 2000s. Ari Marcopoulos, known for his raw, documentary-style captures of skate culture, street life, and candid celebrity moments, created this slim volume as a focused study of domesticity. The book strips away the high-octane energy typically associated with his urban photography, shifting the focus to a quieter, intimate observation of his feline companion.

The aesthetic of the publication adheres to the minimalist, accessible design philosophy maintained by Benjamin Sommerhalder at Nieves. By presenting these images in an unadorned, small-format layout, Marcopoulos and the publisher aimed to emphasize the personal and transitory nature of the work. It was received by the photography community as a refreshing deviation from his larger, more commercially distributed projects, serving as a rare, quiet artifact that highlights the versatility of his lens beyond the subcultures he is most famous for chronicling.