As an artist dedicated to bringing attention to the protection of wildlife, it felt only fitting to portray one of the world’s most trafficked and poached animals – the pangolin.

Like the rhino’s horn, the pangolin’s scales are falsely believed to hold medicinal powers.

Their defense is simple yet extraordinary: curling into a shielded ball that no predator can penetrate… except man. Tragically, this very instinct, along with their size, is what makes them such easy targets for poachers. In this piece, I wanted to capture both the beauty and uniqueness of the pangolin in its protective form, without losing the soul within its gaze. I chose to unwrap him just slightly – leaving it to the viewer to decide whether he is preparing to retreat into safety, or cautiously opening from his shield to meet the eyes of the only creature that can determine his future.

Even the frame was part of the story. When a rounded frame could not be found, my framers went above and beyond to have one custom made especially for this artwork.

Its circular composition was envisioned from the very beginning, and to this day, it remains the only piece of its kind in my collection.