Cousins' illustrations draw attention to plight of endangered species
Designers use jewellery and key chains to raise awareness of animal cruelty and exploitation
Most people would have a hard time putting a face to these names: the Malayan tapir, Coquerel's sifaka, the Sunda pangolin, the Armenian mouflon, and the saola.
They are all endangered animals and two Hong Kong cousins - both aged 24 - are doing their part to draw public attention to the relatively unknown creatures. Tsui Cheeyee and Aimee Mak Hoeyin paired up to become the design and illustration duo&dear after graduating in 2011.
They scour for news stories from Hong Kong and around the world as inspiration for their illustrations of endangered animals, which are now on display at the HKID gallery at The Peak Galleria until February 15.
Jewellery and key chains bearing their illustrations - which include facts about the animal on the packaging and whether it is at risk of extinction - are being sold at the gallery.
One drawing shows the plight of Asian black bears on the mainland, kept in captivity to harvest bile, which is used in Chinese traditional medicine. A cuddly but melancholy bear is seen clutching the prison bars surrounded by bags of bile.
Another drawing draws on a report from last month that found farmers in Shandong province were speeding up the growth of chickens for a major fast-food outlet by feeding them unapproved hormones. A light is switched on at all times of the day so the chickens eat ceaselessly.
"Loving animals is more than loving your pet dog or cat. There are still a lot of animals that need your care," said Mak.