With art I transmit the importance of the living diversity of creatures on our planet. The girl depicted in this painting offered her blood to emphasize the urgency of saving the clouded leopard, an endangered species in Southeast Asia. I used the blood by dripping it onto the canvas at the end of the work in progress. My intention in using the blood is to give dramatic emphasis to the painting’s message. Together with the gold leaf it gives sacredness to the artwork. There should be no hierarchy of importance between humans and animals. The blood of the girl symbolizes that of the animal. Could you distinguish human blood from animal blood? These animals are threatened by habitat loss following large-scale deforestation and commercial poaching for the wildlife trade. Skins, claws, and teeth are offered for decoration and clothing.

The original oil painting on canvas is no longer available.