ARTIST STATEMENT
From birth, consumerism is forced on us; this is the symbolism of childhood innocence. During this time, values and beliefs are imbedded, so the moment that babies are born they learn that they must become consumers. This transition from childhoods to adulthood is a drastic realisation that our childhoods will not last as we begin our adult life. The teddy bears are a form of symbolism for childhood and questions these values, as with all man-made consumer goods. I am questioning the values of a consumeristic driven society and portraying the disillusionment of young adults when they leave childhood.
ARTWORK PROCESS
Each bear has a different clay mask to portray a forced emotion. I removed three of the bears faces and replaced them with a ‘mask’ sculptured in clay, fired, hand painted, sealed and sewn on to the bears. I have torn and painted areas of the bears' bodies to communicate the suffering and trauma that is often experienced in childhood. The fourth bear I placed a smiling mouth (which was made and sewn on to the bear using the same processes) on the stomach to represent a 'creepy' feeling through displacement of this facial feature.
