14.10.20 - CRITICAL STUDIES - Modern Object in Art

 Isaacie Petaulassie ‘Dancing bear’, 2016



Traditional Inuit carvers on Cape Dorset relatively recently introduced this art form, displaying advanced craftsmanship through stone polar bears capable of balancing on one leg. In the Inuit community, polar bears have always been an important symbol of strength and wisdom, as well as a provider of meat and fur. Within the Inuit’s legends, polar bears lived in igloos, walked on their hind legs like humans and shed their skins as anthropomorphic beings.

I think that the stone is a beautiful representation of the bear’s symbolism as a strong and wise creature, while the glossy finish gives a sense of opulence that conveys how the animal is deeply revered by the Inuit people. The upright pose of the bear with its paws and nose pointing upwards gives it a spirituality that feels really precious and powerful, and it makes me as a viewer want to respect the animal as much as the creators do. I really like the different earthy colours and green flecks in the stone showing a closeness to nature; it reminds me of moss so I see the object as something quite soft despite being made from a solid material. By standing the bear on one leg, it suggests the fragile balance of the natural world, which is becoming increasingly disturbed by human beings. It reminds me that ecosystems are crumbling because of changes happening in the modern world such as global warming, and this is reflected in the bear which would fall over if slightly pushed, so overall there is a real sense of harmony between man and nature in this object. I think this bond is also portrayed in the Ambum Stone that I looked at previously, suggesting it is in our nature to admire and honor the animals around us. I find this relatable to my project because I personally really appreciate the insect world having grown up close to a nature reserve, and I wonder what beetles signify to different cultures around the world.



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