Climats
The painting depicts different bear species in their respective
habitats: the left side where polar bears move in an entirely mineral
environment contrasts with the right, where the plant takes over and
accompanies pandas and brown bears. An immense grizzly bear standing on its
hind legs separates the universes from the diptych thus constituted, while
their unification takes place from above with the same sky which extends above
the horizon line.
By its composition, the work is reminiscent of Delacroix's
Liberty Leading the People: the posture of the artist who depicted himself
wearing a beast's skin, as well as those of the bears at his side, restore the
strength of the famous symbol of rebellion. This is a vibrant advocacy for the
preservation of bears, those beings once considered the ancestors of the human
species, and by extension, nature, our common future on this planet. On the
canvas, the future seems very uncertain: Is the insightful crow bad omen or
does it instead ward off bad luck? What future for the female bear and her cub
who are moving away into the unknown? Finally, we can not decide if the sky is
one morning or announce the twilight ...
