Over 140 bears invade St Petersburg

In July 2012, over 140 bears - all tame and dollied-up - invaded a city park in St Petersburg. 

They were mute but colourful ambassadors of goodwill, having travelled the world for 10 years and - for us Australians - they visited Sydney in 2007. 

Before they left for their next stop - Paris - I caught up with them in the Alexandrovsky Garden in St Petersburg.

Each two-metre-high bear figure represented a different country - and Australia was there.  Filed under the letter 'A', our bear was an explosion of colour by Australian artist Ken Done.

 And at his feet was a little plaque, so he knew where home was...

The bears formed a circle in alphabetical order around the park fountain...

And they were kept in line by the Russian army...

The St Petersburg Times covered the exhibition in an article published on July 4, 2012.

Here's what it said:

Bear hugs from Berlin

A circle of 143 bear sculptures representing different countries are in town to promote peace and harmony.

By Olga Kalashnikova

The St. Petersburg Times

The world-touring United Buddy Bears are celebrating their 25th exhibition and 10th anniversary in St. Petersburg. One hundred and forty-three brightly painted two-meter tall bear figures from all over the world stand hand in hand in the Alexandrovsky Garden, promoting living together in peace and harmony.

The free outdoor exhibit is open in the city 24 hours a day through Aug. 5.

Buddy Bears first hit the streets in 2001. Project initiators Eva and Dr. Klaus Herlitz wanted art to be on display in city streets and decided to start a unique art project in Berlin.

“The positive reaction we got from visitors gave us the idea to use Buddy Bears’ popularity to provide more targeted food for thought to promote mutual understanding between different people. In 2002 this thought developed into the idea of the United Buddy Bears,” said Michael Stefanescu, managing director of Buddy Bear Berlin. 

Here's a photo (taken by me) of a detail from the Russian bear.  It is decorated with a traditional khokhloma pattern.

 The article continues:

Each fibreglass bear represents a member state of the United Nations. All of the bears are standing together hand in hand, forming a large circle of equals.

Artists from all over the world were invited to realize the project. Each bear was created in a different style to express the unique character of the artists’ native countries, allowing visitors to take a journey around the world while visiting the exhibition.

“Together Buddy Bears represent a complete work of art, spreading an enormous zest for life,” said Stefanescu.

“The bears promote tolerance and mutual understanding between different nations and cultures. None of the bears represent a government or current political system. They represent people and their cultures. The arrangement of the different countries symbolizes the vision of a world that will be peaceful in the future,” he said.

There are also four special bears that present ideas necessary for people to co-exist peacefully. Two golden bears holding hands show that nobody can live on their own and that how people behave toward one another has consequences. The first Golden Rule bear conveys the message that the more friendly a person is to other people, the more friendliness they are likely to receive in return. The words “Try to treat everyone the way you want to be treated” are written on it.

The second Global Ethic bear illustrates that there can be no peace among nations without peace among religions. The bear represents the basic commandments from the “Declaration toward a Global Ethic” and is covered in quotes from different religions that all mean the same thing — “In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you.”

There is also an Einstein Bear with the scientist’s words: “Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding.” The Respect For All Life Bear appeals for people to have a kind attitude towards all living creatures. 

Each bear represents a different country.  Cuba's bear smokes a cigar.

Here are my photos of Cuba's bear:

 

The bear was chosen from other animals to be the ambassador for this mission because it is the symbol of Berlin, the city where the sculptures and idea originated.

“People perceive bears to be simpatico and likable — maybe just because most of us grew up with teddy bears. And the raised arms of the bears symbolize that they are not dangerous and do not want to harm anybody,” said Stefanescu.

Since 2002, over 30 million people have viewed the globe-trotting bears.

“Wherever the exhibition has been displayed, including in St. Petersburg, all visitors are excited, thrilled and enthusiastic … We are also glad to see that the message of tolerance and understanding is well understood,” said Stefanescu.

The project aims not only to help with the way people view other countries and the world, but also to raise financial aid for those who need it.

“We also want to highlight that many countries are in urgent need of our support. Children from all over the world can benefit from the proceeds generated by auctioning off sculptures from the circle of United Buddy Bears,” he said.

Charity has become a key part of the Buddy Bear exhibits. During the ten years of its activities the project has raised more than $2.4 million to help children in need. In St. Petersburg one Buddy Bear that represented Russia during a past exhibition (and can still be seen on display at the exhibit as a second figure representing Russia) will be auctioned off to benefit a local children’s charity organization. The starting price is 160,000 rubles ($4,915).

The Buddy Bears’ next destination is Paris: In October this year, they will make their famous circle next to the Eiffel Tower. In 2013 the bears will travel to Brazil.

“Due to the fact that more cities and countries are requesting to host the exhibition, it seems that the world tour of the United Buddy Bears is a neverending story,” said Stefanescu.

The United Buddy Bears exhibit runs through Aug. 5 at the Alexandrovsky Garden in front of the Admiralty. M. Admiralteiskaya. www.buddy-baer.com.

New Zealand was there:

                                            and America...

                                   

                                           and Moldova - front and back...

Here's more bears, but I can only guess their country of origin...

                                                 

                                                     Detail of above bear:

                                                    This bear is gorgeous:

                                                   And this bear made a friend:

This bear is a flight of fancy:

                                              A handsome threesome...

And this one does not look like a bear at all...

The last word: tombstones from around the world

When the dying's done, the dead are not silent.

They are remembered long after they are gone, bookmarked with tombstones, plaques - and our own personal memories.  

Here are a few ways that we have given the dead a voice.

But first, let me set the mood:

Funeral weather

Now you are suitably chilled, your tour of the dead starts in New Zealand, with Jack's seat.

It recalls a dearly loved grandfather who lived long (1904-1991) and left behind a seat with this plaque which looks across valley near Queenstown.

It concludes 'as the family march ahead please look back as we the ancestors follow'.

Jack's seat

The view from Jack's seat

Jack opted for a view and offered a seat to the passers by.

Other people choose a less solitary style with community living (so to speak) in the cemetery, there to rest among their fellow dead away from the chatter of daily life.  

Sunlight and shadow

Such cemeteries are where we find history.  This Boston cemetery is the resting place for Paul Revere.
 

Boston

Paul Revere's plaque

Pompeii

This was one monumental burial.  When the volcano Mount Vesuvius erupted in AD79, it buried the entire town in ash and pumice.  It stayed buried for 1,700 years, yet the dead were still able to speak to us when they were unearthed.

Here are the preserved remains of two.

These figures are distressing: their last moments are frozen and we get to watch. They were buried before their time, so to speak.





The Titanic

This heart breaking tragedy, just beyond our living memory, was the sinking of the Titanic on April 15, 1912.  Over 1,500 people went down with her, and many of the dead went unburied.

Only 329 bodies were recovered, and 119 were buried at sea.  Many could not be identified so they were given a number.

Later, using such clues as clothing, some of the dead could be claimed by their relatives.  Others had be buried with a number alone.  Ultimately, 150 Titanic victims were buried in Halifax, 44 of whom were never identified. 

(My thanks to Rodger who made the expedition to the Halifax Cemetery to take these photos.)

An Australian, one of Titanic's victims: Arthur Gordon McCrae, BE University of New South Wales

A line up of Titanic grave stones

No. 179 - an unidentified passenger on the Titanic

Anne of Green Gables

One of my favourite dead people is Lucy Maud Montgomery, author of the book Anne of Green Gables. 

Resting place of L.M. Montgomery at Cavendish, Prince Edward Island

Despite the fact that Anne of Green Gables was a fiction, she was far more real to me than Lucy Maud.

 I thank Lucy Maud for creating Anne, but she was not Anne.  There was no gravestone for my Anne, so I am declaring her not dead. 

And as such, Anne lives on today, speaking through her books.





World Trade Centre, New York

So many unburied here.  These photos were taken in 2006.

Air space where the towers once stood

This is a timeline of the events of September 11, 2001

Timeline part two

World Trade Centre Station

Photos of that day: note the police presence

A cemetery near Gavle in Sweden

In Sweden, they not only bury their dead, but put them into deep freeze.  

The photos of this cemetery are not black and white stills.  These are full colour photos of a winter's day in Sweden, taken in late December.  The scene was black and white - and bitterly cold.

In Sweden, the winter sun hangs reluctantly just above the horizon for only a few hours, so the day is half lit with a sun about to set.  This photo was taken in the middle of the day.

The dead lie under a blanket of snow and in the windless chill, the silence is almost a presence. 

The Port Arthur Massacre (Tasmania)

This single cross speaks of the 35 lives lost when Martin Bryant went on a killing spree in Tasmania's Port Arthur prison colony on 28 April 1996.  It was - and still is - a popular tourist site.  It was Australia's deadliest killing spree.

Port Arthur, Tasmania

Last but not least:  Salzburg

Salzburg does a most decorative cemetery, lush with flowers, shrubs and statues.

The dead seem incidental.

(Note:  you can also tour my version of the spectacular Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires.  You'll find it in the post called 'Buenos Aires' in this blog.)

Rest in peace.