I’m an artist who shares a deep bond with rabbits, a connection that began on June 16, 2013.
It was a weekend when I first volunteered at an animal shelter in Haikou, Hainan. My job was to clean the cages. The shelter had many animals, mostly dogs, and a few cats. He was the only rabbit there. All the cages were lined up side by side in the same room, and his was placed among them. I noticed a tiny bunny trembling in the corner. His ears had been cut, his legs were broken, and he was too young and frail to undergo surgery. I could feel how scared he was. There was no cover, no bedding, no water, no hay–just cold, bare wire. With his injuries and nowhere to hide, he lay there completely exposed and helpless. The fear in his eyes was heartbreaking. At that moment, I knew, I would give him a forever home.
We later named him Tangdou, which means “candy” in Chinese, a wish that from then on, his life would only be sweet. Over time, we began calling him by all kinds of nicknames: Dou, Doudou, or simply Doo.
Since then, I’ve met many rabbits like Doo, fragile, overlooked, yet full of quiet strength and tenderness. Over time, I realized that rabbits are often not seen the same way as cats or dogs. In many places, they’re not even considered companions. That painful truth pushed me to do more. Rescue alone wasn’t enough. I began to draw them, tell their stories, design products, share their faces on social media, and speak about their lives whenever I could, hoping to help more people see what I see: how gentle, unique, and soulful rabbits truly are.
Through my art, I try to speak for them, to offer them warmth, presence, and voice. And to share the simple values that guide me: love, gratitude, and respect for all life.
On January 23, 2022, Doo crossed the rainbow bridge. But my mission didn’t end there.