kyah
wirsch


They/Them

Creative Artist, Illustrator, Animator                                          
cartoon, characters, internet, video games, dreams, imaginary, interactive

For living:room, I wanted to create something that showcased all the skills I've developed—animation, illustration, character design, graphic design, writing, video, music/sound, and painting—blending them into a cohesive, interactable experience. "Business Cat" is a project made up of many parts. The main artwork is a custom-built arcade cabinet, constructed from plywood and hardboard, painted with acrylic, and equipped with buttons, a joystick, a coin slot, and a 36” monitor. The accompanying video is fully animated and drawn in Procreate, while the employee handbook was designed using both Procreate and Illustrator.

I wanted to create a game—or, in this case, a mock playthrough—because I believe video games and cartoons deserve greater recognition as art forms. The immense effort that goes into these mediums is often overlooked, but they have been a major source of inspiration for artists like me. While I would have loved to make "Business Cat" a fully interactive game, I’m still new to coding and game design. Instead, I opted for an imitation of a game demo, inspired by works like Petscop and the Polybius myth.

The characters and concept behind “Business Cat” stem from an ARG (Alternate Reality Game) I participated in as a teenager. This ARG revolved around a company secretly run by a cat-worshiping cult called the COPSP. Many of my characters are based on those from the ARG, as well as original stories my friends and I created during that time. My involvement in the ARG introduced me to cryptography and puzzle-solving, which sparked my love for hiding messages and breadcrumb trails in my work. I enjoy adding hidden details and references for those who, like me, love to look beyond the surface.

For living:room, my thought process was that while most people feel comfortable in their actual living rooms, I feel most at home in imaginary spaces—whether in cartoons, video games, or digital worlds. The arcade cabinet plays into this concept by evoking nostalgia, representing a once-common object that has since become a novelty. Through “Business Cat”, I wanted to capture that sense of wonder and immersion, inviting viewers to step into a world that is both familiar and mysterious.





Previous Works

 
MHC
Art & Design Program – MHC

We would like to acknowledge the support of sponsors, including: 

Contact Info
livingroomartdesign@gmail.com
403.529.3959
Address
399 College Ave SE
Medicine Hat, AB - Canada
T1A 3Y6
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