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by Milk Dong (Illustrator)
The animals found within Hey Human, See What You Do!? are crying, they're suffering awful physical pain, and they're talking to us. Their gaze makes us feel our responsibility towards them. We shouldn't have to think of animals as being human in order to feel any responsibility towards them.
This is not just an illustrated book about extinction. It's also a book
about the routine cruelties that we inflict on animals, both domestic
and 'wild'.
Cruelty to animals is a hard problem, so we put it at the bottom of the things we want to change and consequently it's never addressed. The solution? Why not think of this book as your to-do list. With razor sharp satire Milk DoNg's work pierces through the mental gymnastics we do to justify our exploitation and gets to the bit where it just doesn't feel right. It's a childlike insistence on the bare facts. It's just plain cruel.
Milk DoNg is doing something as old fashioned as political art, he's using drawing to make a protest. And the drawings are compelling enough to make us want to look at them, in spite of how disturbing they are. It's a clever trick. The appeal of the macabre, put to good use as propaganda for a good cause. They sit in the back of the mind, nagging you to think about your relationship with animals.
This book could be the start of a conversation, or a process of self-education. It could be the start of a journey for you, and then who knows...?
Author Biography
Milk DoNg is a British artist born in Hong Kong, he has more than twenty
years of experience in illustration, comics, animation, concept art and
design. He has had a varied career path including, designer, visual
merchandiser, art teacher, sales, customer service, warehouseman,
restaurant waiter, fishmonger, coolie and many more. However even after
all of it he never gave up on art. He loves nature and tries to always
convey a positive message through his art. Saving nature and endangered
species is what Milk DoNg has been doing as part of his passion and
profession.
Awards: Global Art Awards 2021 - Illustration: Winner. The Silent Book Contest 2020 (Italy ): Finalist
