Travel is great, but travel stories are often tedious. Unless they’re told by Ouaf (Woof): a French Dachshund with a wry sense of humour who looks like a hot dog. Woof’s just returned from a trip to New York and is sharing his story with the help of French illustrator Yann Kebbi.
For Kebbi, creating Americanine: A Haute Dog in New York was a way to reconnect with a city he missed and loved—with a twist. “I think if some of the scenes had been narrated by a person, it could have been seen as being cynical, or at least judgmental, which was not the intention,” Kebbi says. “Taking it from a dog’s point of view allows for some softness.”
Woof’s tour of the Big Apple mixes iconic New York places like the Guggenheim and Grand Central, with smaller details like the subway and doughnuts. “The kind of small differences everybody notices when they go to another country,” Kebbi explains. “So when Woof watches the people running behind the glass with perplexity, it’s me really… I love to walk around, watch people, and draw; that is how I experienced New York.”
Woof’s must-see spot? The Northern Dispensary, which sits on Waverly Place and Christopher Street in the West Village. “A tiny, perfect, and beautiful building,” in Kebbi (and Woof’s) opinions.
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All images courtesy of Yann Kebbi
Americanine is published by Enchanted Lion Books
We are thrilled to introduce Dog-Friendly, a collection of city guides for dog-loving people, created together with our long-time contributor, photographer Winnie Au, and fellow enthusiasts, indie publisher Hoxton Mini Press. Available for purchase here.
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