(Ruby) Tuesday 18 December – More Red Bears

Montenegro

Artist: Nenad Soskic

“Montenegro (MNE) regained independence in 2006 after it had been part of Yugoslavia for almost 90 years. With just under 700,000 inhabitants and an area of 13,812 km², our Balkan state is one of the smaller European states. ---
The golden lines on the red bear symbolise the golden path towards a unified Europe.”

 

 

Turkey

Artists: Murat & Cansu Ökmen

The Anatolian peninsula, comprising most of modern Turkey, is one of the oldest permanently settled regions in the world.

 

Algeria

Artist: Caman Baziz

The territory of today's Algeria was the home of many ancient cultures. Algeria is the tenth-largest country in the world and the largest in Africa.

(Mosaic) Monday 17 December – Bears in Costumes

1. Syria – artist: Sabhia Karden

My home country, the Arabic Republic of Syria, is a country full of hospitable people. In our country, a large number of ethnic groups with a very large number of different ancient religions live together in harmony.

The traces of these diverse ancient cultures are documented in Syria in many ways by the cultural vehicles scripture and image. They are also reflected everywhere in the country's architecture.

 

2. Yemen – artist: Maher Nizar

Women's clothes in Yemen is rich in ornaments with a symbolic character, which issue from their faith and arts, Islamic and Non-Islamic.

 

3. India – artist: Sanjay Sikder

The little bear --- stands for an oppressed woman who feels threatened and is struggling. She fears being deserted, suffers from existential fear. How far can inhumanity go?

 

4. Tadzjikistan – artist: Swetlana Frank

The best day for a Tajik is when visitors arrive, he receives good news, a child is born or a wedding celebrated. The Tajik bear can transform every day into a day like that. He's wearing festive clothes, his colourful silk robe is full of traditional tajik needle- and patchwork. Round the hips the bear is wearing three embroidered shawls. No matter where he meets a stranger or a friend - in the field or on the street - he spreads out one of the shawls as a tablecloth, puts the second one on the ground for his guest to sit on, takes a piece of bread, a handful of dried fruit and some other nibbles from the third one and calls out, "What a day! Let's celebrate! Welcome!"

Sunday 16 December – Sunny Bears

Mexico

Artist: Gabriel Hermida

“The Mexican bear is dressed in large green leaves. This symbolises the tropical vegetation in large parts of Mexico. We can see the wide landscape through bushes and leaves. It's the landscape the Aztecs were dreaming of when immigrating into Mexico. Through mythology the wandering Aztec people were predicted to settle where an eagle fights with a snake in the middle of a lake. That's where the Aztecs founded today's Mexico City. We can see the lake in a valley surrounded by mountains and volcanoes. The bear is wearing a sun as a mask. It's a smiling sun shining very brightly. In Mexican mythology the sun as a circle is a holy symbol.”

 

South Africa

Artist: Constance Wagner

Umthombo Wobuntu - Carrier of Great Value

“The Buddy Bear symbolizes the people of South Africa as bearers of the irretrievable values of our unique Nature, for which preservation we all are responsible. The luminous sun on the bear's breast illuminates motives from the fauna and flora of South Africa. Smaller motives are arranged around the head, neck, arms and legs to resemble traditional beadwork.”

Saturday 15 December – Mountain Bears

Austria

Artist: Berrenice Darrer

Austria's terrain is highly mountainous due to the presence of the Alps; only 32% of the country is below 500 metres (1,640 ft), and its highest point is 3,798 metres (12,461 ft). The majority of the population speak local Austro-Bavarian dialects of German as their native language, and German in its standard form is the country's official language. (from Wikipedia)

 

Norway

Artists: Laila Holm & Vivianne H. Nustad

“We wanted to capture the moods and the light of the dramatic mountains and fjord landscapes of the West coast of Norway.

In this environment people often seem very small. The scenery hasn't be touched for thousands and thousands of years.

Two original Norwegian rock carvings have been painted on the bear.

The Buddy Bear is a sort of artefact and a symbol of ancient history, wild landscapes and a joint, new future.”

 

 

 

North Korea

Artists: Chang Bok Rim + Ik Hyon Kim

“The North Korean bear shows a reunited Korean landscape, thus expressing the desire for reunification. --- The top part of the bear shows the Paektu Mountain in the North of Korea, whereas the bottom part shows the Hallasan Mountain in South Korea. Joining the two mountains symbolises the unity of the Korean people.”

 

Friday 14 December - Flowery Bears

Russia

Artist: Marina Bitter

 

Malaysia

Artist: Imuda

 

Denmark

Artist: Anne Elisabeth Oestergaard

'Rødgrød med fløde' (‘red porridge with cream’, a sweet fruit dish from Denmark/Germany) in Danish features many of the elements that make the language difficult for non-native speakers to pronounce.