Who was Percy? The Ossie Clark Cat?
A performance and veterinarian investigation into Percy the cat depicted on the lap of Ossie Clark in David Hockney’s painting – that was voted England’s most popular painting. But who was Percy the cat?
Strabo’s investigation became a performance art odyssey – taking interviews from amongst others Lady Henrietta Rous – friend of Ozzie and compiler/editor of his diaries, and Allan Hitchins, the former King’s Road veterinarian whose clients – including Ozzie – are a roster of London’s 1970s Chelsea culture and who attended the (female) cat “Percy” who changed gender and name for Hockney.
Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy – David Hockney
Lady Henrietta Rous, who was muse to Ossie Clark, and editor of Ossie’s diaries
Twiggy wearing Ossie Clark
Alan Hitchins had the grooviest veterinarian practice on the King’s Road and cat-patients included “Percy” ( in fact a female) cat belonging to Ossie Clark