Bear Statue, Statue in Lyon, France
The Statue de l'Ours is a large polyester resin sculpture of a bear standing upright with one paw raised, placed along Quai Charles de Gaulle in Lyon. The brown figure stands about 9 feet (2.8 meters) tall and is visible from the riverside promenade.
The sculpture was installed in 2006 as part of a public commission by Grand Lyon, which involved a selection process among four artists before Xavier Veilhan was chosen. The project was intended to bring contemporary art into the public spaces around the Cité Internationale.
The statue is part of a group of six works by Lyon-born artist Xavier Veilhan, known as "Les Habitants" (The Inhabitants). Each figure in the group represents a different character, from penguins to a pizza delivery person, all placed in public spaces around the city.
The sculpture stands along the riverside and is easy to reach on foot from the promenade. The surrounding area is open during the day, and walking along the quay makes it simple to spot the other figures in the group as well.
Although the bear figure is the most recognized in the group, it is the only sculpture in the series placed on the Quai Charles-de-Gaulle side, set apart from the other five figures. This separation makes it feel like a solitary sentinel watching over the river.
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