Is that a bear with wings? Right here at Gare du Nord stands the Angel Bear Sculpture. It is hard to miss this big red bear with wings. The Angel Bear is a modern marvel.
This sculpture is the work of Richard Texier. He is not big on logic. Richard prefers to stimulate the imagination and evoke magic.
The Angel Bear appeared here in June 2015. SNCF Gares et Connexions commissioned it for the Climate Conference. This conference is also known as COP21.
The Angel Bear is more than seven meters tall. It weighs 4.8 tons. The red color accentuates the message of alert and danger. It highlights the nature of this being. Like humans, it is both powerful and fragile.
Texier was moved by a photo of a polar bear adrift on an ice floe. The bear was destined to die. This inspired him to create Angel Bear. It is a bionic and hybrid winged bear.
The melting ice caps threaten the bear’s existence. The Angel Bear sends a silent message to travelers. It speaks of the world’s fragility and climate issues. Almost 700,000 people pass through this station each day. The artist wants his work to live within the human community.
Some find an inescapable air of kitsch about it. It might be something you would buy in a posh gift shop. Others see Paris trying to be less of an antique.
The sculpture seems to disintegrate under a mysterious force. That force is global warming. Though airy despite its weight, the chimera spreads its wings. It attempts to escape the world. It is a cosmic spokesperson for polar bears. They are threatened by climate change and melting ice.
Texier’s Paris studio is in a renovated factory. He travels the planet to understand his personal cosmogony. He is haunted by the sky, the cosmos, navigation, and travel. These are essential milestones of his creation.
Angel Bear stands as a totem. It is a message of alert for all men. It reminds us of our childhood companion. It stands on its majestic base. The bear seizes travelers. It delivers a silent message.