All About Artists
Adopt a Polar Bear: Into the Creative Mind of Dae Byu
Discover the works of South Korean artist Dae Byu, and the hidden meanings behind his delightful fibreglass polar bear sculptures.
ShareBy Bridget
In soothing muted tones and charming pops of pastel colours, Dae Byu’s series of polar bear sculptures have become a major symbol of his signature art style. Hailing from South Korea, his sculptures have been sighted at major museums, public installations, having also made their way into the homes and gardens of his ardent collectors.
Dae Byu’s 2020 exhibition at Hey Hi Hello, Seoul, South Korea. Image courtesy of the artist’s instagram.
Dae Byu’s sculptures seen at Harbour City, Hong Kong
With the delightful imagery of bumbling polar bears accompanied by bright scoops of pastel-coloured ice cream, his works offer a peek into the lives of these animals. Beyond his playful imagery and gentle colour schemes, his works carry the artist’s deeper sentiments towards the state of our environment in today’s modern society. These critiques stem from issues of our treatment of wildlife, the human condition, and empathy towards our natural world.
Dae Byu’s 2020 exhibition at Hey Hi Hello, Seoul, South Korea. Image courtesy of the artist’s instagram.
A Bear Reading A Book, 50 x 40 x 40 cm
A Bear Reading A Book, 50 x 40 x 40 cm
Cast in fiberglass, the composition of his figures allude to an underlying anthropomorphic quality, reflexive in the polar bear’s ability to display care, read, and contemplate beyond typical primal natures. Similarly, the whimsical blobs of ice cream are symbols resonant of our colder climates, as the family of bears struggle to navigate its realms in the state of nature today, reflected in the melting ice caps and thinning pools of icy water which the bears are often captured in.
Dae Byu’s 2020 exhibition at Hey Hi Hello, Seoul, South Korea. Image courtesy of the artist’s instagram.
Created in a multitude of sizes, Dae Byu’s sculptures are suitable for life both indoors and in outdoor settings. With their gentle forms and soft lines, they will become a whimsical and well-loved addition to anyone’s home. Feel free to view more of Dae Byu’s works in our collection at Ode to Art here , or come down to the gallery at Raffles City to see these wonderful pieces in person.
Dae Byu’s 2020 exhibition at Hey Hi Hello, Seoul, South Korea. Image courtesy of the artist’s instagram.
Dae Byu’s sculptures seen at Harbour City, Hong Kong
With the delightful imagery of bumbling polar bears accompanied by bright scoops of pastel-coloured ice cream, his works offer a peek into the lives of these animals. Beyond his playful imagery and gentle colour schemes, his works carry the artist’s deeper sentiments towards the state of our environment in today’s modern society. These critiques stem from issues of our treatment of wildlife, the human condition, and empathy towards our natural world.
Dae Byu’s 2020 exhibition at Hey Hi Hello, Seoul, South Korea. Image courtesy of the artist’s instagram.
A Bear Reading A Book, 50 x 40 x 40 cm
Cast in fiberglass, the composition of his figures allude to an underlying anthropomorphic quality, reflexive in the polar bear’s ability to display care, read, and contemplate beyond typical primal natures. Similarly, the whimsical blobs of ice cream are symbols resonant of our colder climates, as the family of bears struggle to navigate its realms in the state of nature today, reflected in the melting ice caps and thinning pools of icy water which the bears are often captured in.
Dae Byu’s 2020 exhibition at Hey Hi Hello, Seoul, South Korea. Image courtesy of the artist’s instagram.
