Chris Soccio

Artist: Russell James

Size: 152cm x 152cm

Medium: Black and white photography printed on fine art photographic rag paper

"As expats living in Ukraine, we adopted Koko within the first two weeks of arriving in 2015. She was a skinny, mistreated street puppy who had been abandoned. She quickly became a member of the family and provided love and security to us. When we went on holiday to Queensland in February 2022, we had no idea that war would descend on the scale that it did. While challenging and not advised, I returned to get her. I’ll never forget the feeling of being reunited with her or the look on her face when she realised she was coming with me. That is the responsibility and joy of owning animals."