Nobody move. The cat is watching the mouse, and the mouse is watching the cat. In Close Encounter, Alex Johnson S.O.F.A. turns a patch of grass into the setting for a wonderfully unresolved meeting. It could be the beginning of an unlikely friendship, or a very temporary ceasefire. The artist leaves the ending to us.
This limited edition linocut was made from a single sheet of lino using the reduction method. The bold shapes and green ground give the encounter an immediate clarity, while the curved form of the cat keeps our attention circling back towards the tiny mouse. There is a whole story here, held in one still moment.
For anyone who enjoys an artwork that starts conversations, this is a particularly appealing discovery. Put two cat lovers in front of it and you may get two entirely different accounts of what happens next. Which version would you choose?
Explore the Winter Exhibition
The exhibition closes on Sunday 15 November 2026.
