Aurora, a giant Polar Bear the size of a double decker bus was the focal point of UK's Day of Action to protect the Arctic.
A team member makes adjustments to Aurora, the specially commissioned super-puppet of a Polar Bear the size of a double decker bus which was the focal point of 's day of action to protect the Arctic on 15 September 2013. Aurora will be traveling to various destinations across Europe as part of continued protest action. The names of the 3 million Arctic Defenders have been sewn on her neck . The giant Polar Bear weighs about 3 tonnes and requires 15 puppeteers to operate it and 30 volunteers to haul it through the streets. It is named Aurora after the phenomenon of the Northern Lights as well as the collective noun for Polar Bears. The design was inspired by the Armoured Polar bears that appeared in author Philip Pullman's book "Northern Lights" from his "Dark Materials" Trilogy (and the film version "The Golden Compass" based on the books) Other design inspirations includes photographs of polar bears and moodboard imagery of Shackleton's polar expedition, ships, ragging and wrote iron metal-work. The concept of the giant puppet traveling through London was inspired by the French theater company Royal de Luxe's Sultan's Elephant which was the biggest free art event ever held in London (May 2006). Its creation was a unique collaboration. Commissioned by Greenpeace, Designed by Christopher Kelley in consultation with leading props designer Simon Costin Manufactured by Factory Settings The protest march in London ended behind the London Eye on the South Bank of the Thames at oil company Shell's headquarters. Once outside the Shell building, a song and some very powerful speeches were delivered by Kiera Kolson and Besha Blondin from the Northwest Territories. Their people are the traditional inhabitants of this area and their livelihood and existence depends on the environment and ecosystems which the devastation caused by oil companies is destroying. There are many endangered animal species that are at risk, one of which is the Polar Bear.
Size: 4272px × 2848px
Location: London, UK
Photo credit: © Solveig Stibbe / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 15, 2013, action, arctic, aurora, bear, building, canvas, companies, day, defenders, greenpeace, ice, london, mast, mechanical, oil, polar, pollution, protect, protest, protesters, ride, sculpture, september, shell, super-puppet, white, windows
