Lolcat art: Gallery hosts exhibition of cat phenomenon

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An exhibition has opened in London devoted to the online phenomenon of cats doing funny things, known as "lolcats".

It is the first of its kind in Europe, according to organisers.

Hundreds of thousands of people around the world create and share online these feline-inspired, often humorous, artistic creations.

Websites have sprung up to cater to the "lolcat community", and members have even developed their own language: an approximation of how cats might sound if they spoke, according to those in the know.

BBC News caught up with the exhibition's organiser Jenny Theolin; Kate Miltner, who has done graduate research on the Lolcats phenomenon; and two exhibiting artists: Lizzie Mary Cullen and James O'Connell, who are both also graphic designers by day.

Lolcat: Teh Exhibishun (sic) runs from 23 January to 15 February at The Framers Gallery in central London. Artwork from the event is to be sold off to raise money for Battersea Dogs & Cats Home.

Video Journalists: Dave Lee and Dougal Shaw

BBC © 2013 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.

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