Dad by Louis Ko

This portrait of my father is both a gift and a tribute. He lives and works in Korea while I live in Brisbane with my mum and sister. Even from far away, he supports us without complaint, quietly carrying the weight of our lives so we can have new opportunities here.
I painted him looking upward as a symbol of my deep respect. I created this piece for his birthday, but also because I don’t always know how to say these things out loud. Art became the way I could.

Though we’re separated by distance, we are connected through my education — something he has worked so hard to make possible. This portrait is my thank you, a way of showing that I see everything he’s done and that I admire him not just as a dad, but as someone who’s shaped the path I’m walking now.