When I decided to paint Sirius, it was immediately clear who would sit as the model for it: my dog Chili. She has an incredibly lovable, very complex personality and many faces; this is her most serious one. After adopting her many years ago, she has saved my life and shaped my identity. A special bond unites us.

Sirius is that special dog for all of humanity. Sirius serves as a metaphor for the deep connection between humans and dogs, a relationship that has existed for thousands of years. We evolved side by side, paws next to feet, leaving our bonded footprints on the path of life.

Being the brightest star in the night sky, Sirius acts as a guide, a point of reference throughout the seasons. Sirius is the harbinger of storms and the most intense scorching heat of the summer. In ancient Egypt, he heralded the onset of the Nile flood, an event of crucial importance.

There are different stories about how and why gods placed Sirius as a star in the sky; some say it was out of pity, others say it was punishment. It was also believed that this star is the home of the gods, or even God himself. In any case, it is clear that he has been watched, and he is watching, for a very long time. Cultures and peoples come and go, empires rise and crumble. The great and the wonderful, horror and destruction, war and forces of nature - nothing will make him wonder. Sirius has seen it all.