The Sapporo Ekimae-dori Underground Pedestrian Space, commonly known as "Chi-Ka-Ho," connects Sapporo and Odori subway stations. It's more than just a passageway; it's a bustling venue for various events, and a certain piece of art that suddenly appeared there is now the talk of the town.

It's a giant "Space Cat." A well-known internet meme, its sheer impact on a large canvas and realistic detail have sparked conversations on social media, with comments like "Incredibly well-done" and "I want to go see this." So, what's the story behind this giant Space Cat in Chi-Ka-Ho?

A Live Drawing Piece by High School Students in Sapporo

This is actually a piece created during the "School Art Live" live drawing project. School Art Live is one of the initiatives within "Sapporo Art Stage," an event where you can experience Sapporo's art scene, and it brings together high school students from across the city to create collaborative artworks.

This year's theme is "We think about the Earth in the universe, Japan on the Earth, Hokkaido in Japan, and Sapporo in Hokkaido!".
Here are the works created over two days by art club members and art students from eight high schools in the city.

Hokkaido Sapporo Higashi High School Art Club - "Uchuuneko" (Space Cat)

Hokkaido Sapporo Asukaze High School Art Unit-ASUKAZ - "What We Want"

Hokkaido Sapporo Hokuryo High School Art Club - "Guiding the Past"

Hokusei Gakuen University High School Art Club - "Bird Yuru-Chara Mandala"

Municipal Sapporo Hiragishi High School, 2nd Year Design Art Course, Painting Major - "ECHOES OF VNIVERSE"

Hokkaido Sapporo Nishi High School Art Club - "Sapporocket"

Sapporo Otani High School, Art Department & Art Club - "SappoRocket179"

Hokkaido Sapporo Minami High School Art Club - "boys be global"

The "School Art Live" artworks will be on display at Chi-Ka-Ho until November 24th (Sun)! If you're nearby, be sure to check them out in person.