Art for animal welfare: DSZE Charitable Foundation and Poppy D Sze unite for “Soar—A Charitable Art Exhibition for Animal Welfare” at Art Basel

Poppy D Sze ’s paintings burst with vivid hues and confident mark-making—forms of expression that imbue each subject with presence and vitality. “Sadness becomes a default reading if we portray the subjects as passive or powerless,” she said. “I use different technical and compositional choices to present the dogs as present and self-possessed.”

The artist’s empathetic gaze stems from first-hand experience. At the local dog shelter, she spent extended time studying the animals, observing their subtle gestures and quiet resilience. “There was this one dog who on the outside seemed very quiet and cautious,” she recalled. “But when I sat down and stayed still for a while, they began to hold eye contact with a kind of steady calm. It wasn’t dramatic; it was a quiet, sustained gaze that felt deeply human.” 

Among the highlights of the exhibition are four defining works: Sagacity, Overflow, Amity and Romp. Together, their initials form the exhibition’s title, Soar—a poignant play on words designed to emphasise the collection’s core message of uplifting lives.

The piece Sagacity, in particular, offers a moving portrait of a dog named Yuan Yuan, whom the artist, Poppy D Sze, encountered at a local shelter. Yuan Yuan’s history is one of remarkable resilience; she spent more than ten years trapped in an illegal breeding operation, where she had been confined since birth. Following her rescue, she was brought to the shelter while battling severe pancreatitis.

Now 18 years old, she is the shelter's most senior resident. Despite her advanced age, she remains remarkably energetic and full of spirit. At the shelter, Yuan Yuan has found far more than mere safety; she has discovered a profound sense of belonging.

“Visitors often notice that even the largest dogs become gentle and calm in her presence,” the artist says. “Her story illustrates that rescue is about more than just protection—it is about restoring dignity, fostering love, and finding a true place to call home.

“Spending time with the rescue dogs has reshaped my understanding of empathy to be something more disciplined. In a shelter environment, you learn quickly that trust cannot be demanded; it must be earned through compassion, consistency and respect for boundaries.” 

This charitable art exhibition not only illuminated the resilience of rescue animals but also demonstrated how art and philanthropy can intersect to advocate for change. The exhibition also featured a dialogue between Tatler’s senior arts and culture editor Zabrina Lo, the artist Poppy D Sze and the charity’s managing director Samantha Lo.

Through “Soar—A Charitable Art Exhibition for Animal Welfare”, DSZE Charitable Foundation reframes animal welfare not as a niche cause but as part of a broader conversation on empathy, dignity and coexistence; the decision to express its advocacy through art is both strategic and symbolic. “Art is a universal language,” Samantha Lo said. “Immediate help is very important to welfare issues, but we are looking at long-term effects. By having an art exhibition like this, I hope it will draw public attention and help tell the unique stories of every life we try to save.”

“We never think of separating the lives we could help. We would like to extend our support to rescue animals because pets contribute to our psychological well-being. It is also in line with our mission that the unspoken voice should also be heard.”

Each of the 23 works on display was available for purchase, with proceeds directed towards the foundation’s ongoing charitable initiatives. The exhibition sought to challenge perception—transforming the narrative around stray and rescue animals from pity to dignity and grace. Each piece captures what Poppy D Sze described as the “unspoken bond” between animals and humans—a bond that is “real, mutual, and immediate, not something abstract or based on ownership.”

For the DSZE Charitable Foundation, working with artists like Poppy D Sze aligns with a broader vision of cultivating a sustainable culture of kindness. “It is very meaningful to work with creative artists because art can tell the unique story of every individual life we try to rescue. We believe that legacy is a habit of kindness that is spread and practical, because only practical things can be consistent,” Samantha Lo said. “The exhibition is no investment in art for value but a gift of kindness—the seed for the sustenance of generations, whose worth is beyond measure.”

To hold the event during Art Basel, a globally influential platform, meant reaching prominent art patrons and calling for shared social responsibility. “Influential ability is another form of responsibility,” Samantha Lo told the audience, which included art collectors, artists, entrepreneurs and Tatler community members, such as Youth Arts Foundation’s founder Lindsey McAlister, media artist Henry Chu and food-saving app Chomp founder Carla Martinesi. “We hope that everyone could work to reveal those who are invisible so we could provide necessary help, support and care to them.”

For Poppy D Sze, the exhibition was both personal and universal: “Soar—A Charitable Art Exhibition for Animal Welfare” is ultimately about second chances, hope and dignity,” she said. “It’s to recognise that these dogs are not defined by their experiences, but by their individuality, memories, sensitivity and resilience.”