Definitely with you there, Peter........grotesque just about covers it, I think! And quite sad really, to cut open bears and turn them inside out - NOT art  in my opinion...............
huggies
Maria

Yes, I totally agree, Peter, his idea is really cock-eyed. The teddy hits at the core of innocence & childhood. We do wish he'd chosen another symbol...
But what I'm mostly up-in-arms about is this: (IF THESE ARE WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE) - What a rip-off!! To trade on someone else's work, be it an artist's work or a manufactured bear doesn't matter - this is total 'material' plagiarism!
Whoever this 'author' is, he should be severely castigated for using others' work.
The least he should have done is create his own bears.
One needs to give credit when using someone else's work: I'm not sure if I'd like to have my work identified if one were mine!!

I got one word for him..."MORON" Apparently he can"t get a real job!!!!

Hugs
Kristina

Anyone who turns the teddy bear into a representation of something other than warm fuzzies and innocense needs some serious counseling in my opinion. They've clearly got issues. They don't need to push their horrible childhoods on the rest of us. Just get a therapist.

Sadly, people from all walks of life turn all sorts of otherwise innocent objects, subjects, things into representations of their twisted, sicko minds.

For the magazine to run that article: Tacky. In my opinion.

I would like to hear more about the book.  Is this merely a picture book?  Or, is there some substance within the book that would give meaning to the pictures?  Sometimes, authors use shock tactics to make a point.  Obviously, he's trying to say that life for children isn't always warm and fuzzy.  If the author is trying to shed light on child abuse, childhood proverty, etc. then these pictures could serve as a good representation.   While the pictures may be disturbing on their own, coupled with the book, they may have real meaning.  I think I will withhold judgment until I see or read the book.  Remember . . . never judge a book by its cover!

Hugs,
Alison

Last edited by eteddys (Mar 14, 2010 12:30:54 PM)

I did some research and watched many many interviews of this artist and read many interviews. I get it, I understand it I know where he's coming from. I can't say I agree with cutting up a teddy bear, his work is thought provoking and is meant to create discussions as any other art work should do. It looks as though he has done that even on this forum.

I like this quote directly from the Artist.

These bears, which have lived and loved and lost as much as their owners, have suffered and endured through it all. It is by virtue of revealing their inner core might we better understand our own.

I think the magazine did a wonderful job in having the guts (no pun intended) to do this interview and to publish it in their magazine. Good for them and I for one applaud them for doing this. We don't know to much about his background or his childhood. He does mention in one interview that he could not afford therapy so it does seem there may be something below the surface.

I agree with Alison and think this could be something to do with being abused, this is a topic very close to me as I have a very good friend who was sexually abused by her father for many many yrs and then physically abused by her mother. On numerous occasions we talked and discussed it and she said many times it was like being turned inside out.  A teddy bear is a childhood friend and protector, but by doing what he is doing it drives home this point, that these abused children are being turned inside out.  Each to their own opinion but I think we should all stop and think a bit about the art instead of just saying it's ugly and horrible. So is sexual abuse and physical abuse , those children wear those scars and bruises everyday, just like these inside out bears do now.

Sorry just a tough subject for me and I'm not trying to offend anyone, I just think a lot of people are missing the point of this book.

Big hugs

Shane

I hope I don't get yelled at for saying this but I really think that these bears are not hideous at all.  I understand that the artist is trying to make a point about childhood, but look at some of them, even turned inside out, they are still kind of cute to me in an oddball kind of way.  I guess to me even the most misshapen of teddies still holds it's charm.  I am weird.
Joanne

I am with you there Peter, do not find these bears appealing at all.

thanks Shane, for explaining why the Artist did what he did and it has given rise to a discussion.

Hugs
Carolyn

You might be right Melissa but as some have pointed out they are not shocked or upset by his art work. Again I think to each their own and there are a lot of bears that have fuzzy fur that I don't care for but that's just my opinion, other people may very well love them. It's very much like paintings, I can really love a canvas that has just paint splatters on it and others may look at it and say it garbage. I think it's great to have an opinion just like you said, but none of us have to agree        .

big hugs

Shane

Thanks for taking time to check this out Shane.......now I can understand where the artist is coming from, but I still don't really like the bears. I just hope we don't see a rush of copy-cats....

huggies
Maria        

It's interesting that he had enough material to get a whole book out of it - and found a publisher.

Now the general appeal of his art can be measured by his sales ....

Sue

The Teddy Bear is much more than a physical object.  It is a symbol.  It is a symbol of love, caring and enduring loyalty.

It is precisely because we know that some childrens' lives are not as happy as we wish that they should be that we have created the Teddy Bear.  The Bear comforts sad, frightened children.  He is their confidante when they are sad and unsure of life.  A child's Teddy Bear is ALWAYS THERE and is ALWAYS READY to help a child endure whatever adversity comes his or her way.

This is a VERY important symbolism which we have created for the Teddy Bear.  People who make Teddy Bears make them just for that reason.  It doesn't matter whether it is a collectible Teddy Bear or one which will sleep in the crib with a newborn baby.  A Bear is a Bear.  It is important to keep this symbolism intact for future generations of children so that they may have comfort in times of sadness and fear.

To turn a Teddy Bear inside out is to INVERT the symbolism of the Bear.  This turns the Bear into a symbol of UNcaring!  Anybody who claims that this is art is not thinking very well.  Just about the only thing I can think is that he is practicing the art of mental masturbation.  The guy is an unthinking idiot who has no grasp on what the Teddy Bear really means.  All he is doing is grasping at straws and playing with concepts in order to make a name for himself.

It is my advice that we do not respond to idiots like this.  To do so only validates their point.  The best thing we can do is to IGNORE bums like this and hope that they fade off into obscurity.