Polar Bear by artists Gillie and Marc
LOCATIONS
EDITION 1 - SINGAPORE - 19 May 2023 - 18 May 2024
Gardens By The Bay, 18 Marina Gardens Dr, Singapore 018953
Visit the sculpture, click for map >
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NAME
Ursula
TITLE
Love The Polar Bear
GENDER
Female
AGE
6
FOUND
Arctic Circle
CONSERVATION STATUS
Vulnerable
It’s hard being a mother, and this mother polar bear will do anything for her cubs. As her twins moved on into independence, she still thinks of them as she searches for their favourite seal meal. She’s finding it much harder these days as the ice seems to get smaller and smaller. She hopes her cubs are having better luck than she is.
A descendent of the brown bear, the polar bear is the only bear who is considered a marine mammal. They spend so much time on the freezing sea ice and are completely dependent on the ocean for both its food and habitat. They are very strong swimmers with large front paws and slightly webbed back feet, allowing them to swim constantly for days at a time. Their thick white fur is crucial to keeping them warm, and interestingly enough not really white... It's translucent! The reflection on the snow around them gives them their beautiful white appearance - their skin on the other hand is black.
Polar bears live solitary lives, learning all the skills necessary from their mother and sibling (often their twin) before heading out on their own. The mother starts her winter in hibernation and once her cubs are born, she continues to fast while still feeding her cubs milk. After giving birth, she will dig a den deep in a snowdrift to give her cubs insulation from the freezing outdoors. When the weather starts to warm the mother will break out of the den, feeding on any vegetation while her cubs play, getting used to using their legs for walking. Once they are ready, they will start the long walk to the sea ice where the mother can hunt for seal. The cubs will stay with her for 28 months before she chases them away, forcing them to become independent.
Despite their stereotype for being aggressive, the polar bear is not territorial and will often choose to run away rather than fight. Polar bears will usually only attack if they are severely provoked or hungry. This doesn’t mean they aren’t dangerous. The largest of all bears, this is not an animal you would want to cross.
With the ice in the Arctic sea declining by about 14% per decade, the polar bear is running into trouble. With less ice to hunt on, polar bears are forced into areas inhabited by humans to search for food. This can be dangerous for both bear and human that are both trying to protect their homes.
They are also threatened by oil exploitation that is becoming more and more frequent in the Arctic. Not only is this taking away more of their homes, but an oil spill could also be devastating for their entire ecosystem. It is so important to look for alternatives to help protect these precious bears and all the other animals who call this wintery wonderland home.
HOW TO HELP
Inspired by animals that Gillie and Marc met on their travels, we invite the public to discover and interact with these beautiful creatures up close and personal – this allows audiences to connect, take photographs and share their favourite species with friends and family.
With more exposure comes more awareness and builds on the love we already have for animals around the world. With love comes a greater sense of urgency to create a change and save all endangered animals.
The sculpture will be aligned with the hashtag #LoveTheLast to raise unparalleled awareness about the sculpture’s cause across the globe.
To help protect these animals, please donate to the WWF: https://www.wwf.sg/
PARTNER
For more information, visit https://www.wwf.sg
ABOUT GILLIE AND MARC
Gillie and Marc’s highly coveted public artworks can be found worldwide including in New York, London, Singapore, Shanghai, and Sydney. They are Archibald Prize finalists, won the Chianciano Biennale in Italy, took out the Allens People’s Choice Award in 2016 and 2018 and Kids’ Choice Award in the 2016 Sculpture by the Sea and received the Bayside Arts Festival People's Choice Award in 2019 in Sydney.
The husband-and-wife duo are on a mission to make art for a better tomorrow. They are best known for their beloved characters, Rabbitwoman and Dogman, who tell the autobiographical tale of two opposites coming together as best friends and soul mates.
Gillie and Marc are also passionate eco-warriors and have dedicated their lives to protecting nature.
Gillie grew up with the wildlife in Zambia and Marc studied chimpanzees in Tanzania as a young man. Over time, the artists developed a deep appreciation for all living things and a desire to preserve the magnificence of the natural world.
Gillie and Marc’s mission is to save species from extinction. Through their practices, they are transforming passive audiences into passionate advocates for animal conservation, spreading awareness about endangered species and leading to change.
Their art has raised hundreds of thousands in donations for the many wildlife charities and causes they support through their project Love The Last.
Please follow @gillieandmarcart
If you are interested in buying art related to the Love the Last March, you will also be directly helping real animals in the wild, with 30% of sales going to WWF to continue their fantastic work for animal conservation. Click here to browse art > https://gillieandmarc.com/collections/love-the-last-march
SPONSORED BY
Neo Group Limited, a leading award-winning brand in the food services and hospitality industry, was established in Singapore in 1992. Backed by an integrated value chain and strong track record, Neo Group provides customers with end-to-end food and catering solutions through a comprehensive suite of capabilities and service offerings across five main business segments - Food Catering, Food Retail, Food Manufacturing, Supplies and Trading, and Property. Its unique value proposition and strong commitment to constantly innovate and remain at the forefront of cutting-edge technologies and automation has enabled Neo Group to solidify its position as Singapore’s Number One Events Caterer and grow beyond catering.
Through its subsidiaries, Neo Group’s trading network spans over 30 countries worldwide, while its operations in Singapore are supported by its latest 10-storey state-of-the-art headquarters, central kitchens, manufacturing facilities, warehouses and over 1,600 dedicated employees.
Visit Sponsor Website > www.neogroup.sg
