Dogs & Me

Growing up in Korea in the 70s and 80s, I watched a Japanese animation based on the English novel, 'A Dog Of Flanders'. The story follows a young boy named Nello, who dreams of becoming a painter. Nello becomes best friends with an abandoned dog named Patrasche, and they share everything including playtime, meals and work. Tragically, by the end of the story, they end up homeless, and die together, frozen in the middle of winter. Although the story was deeply moving, it was also very difficult for me to process at such a young age. Despite this, I learned the importance of compassion and responsibility towards both children and pets. The story has stayed with me over the years, and whenever I think of creating a self-portrait or celebrating holidays, I naturally include a dog or dogs. So, in a way, all my dog paintings are my self-portraits. I believe that dogs are humans' best friends, and I hope my paintings convey this unconditional bond.