Mall Bear is coming soon! The New Gallery (TNG) is about to become home to a life-sized replica of a polar bear. Although perhaps less dramatic than the plot of Frankenstein, Calgary artist Chris Friel apes the mad scientist and injects life into a monumental replica of an unmistakable Arctic giant.
Using wire and fabric to construct the body, Friel's piece is covered with Salvia hispanica, the plant component of the Chia Pet. The Chia Pet fad exploded in 1982 with the introduction of a ram-shaped virtual pet prototype. The initial popularity of the ch-ch-ch-chia aptly exemplifies an innate tendency in human nature to invent narratives in order to assign meaning to the world. While Friel is the originator of the gargantuan bear's physical existence, in order to come to life, Mall Bear will be entirely dependent upon the participation of what the artist describes as "a collection of nurturers" consisting of interested parties and passersby. “Mall Bear has the same fundamental needs as humans do — food, water, shelter and love. Gallery patrons will be encouraged to adopt the bear by taking part in his daily watering and becoming involved with his well-being by contributing to a diary detailing Mall Bear's emotional life,” says Friel. Thus, the artist invites us all to experience Mall Bear as he lives out his limited days within the TNG habitat.
Although there is no denying the elements of genuine amusement associated with the absurd presence of a green polar bear within TNG, it's the darker and somewhat cynical narrative that Friel weaves regarding patterns of production and consumption that are his primary concern. Friel gently critiques the desire to legitimatize one's existence through products. "Mall Bear is no different than other products sold in Eau Claire Market, as both exist to fulfil an artificial need, and their sole purpose is to be consumed. By placing this work in a situation of commerce, Mall Bear truly comes home.”
Eager to understand the dynamics of what he calls the modern gold rush, Friel set out to experience the phenomenon from the inside out: first working as a contractor for a vinyl siding company in Calgary by assisting in the rapid expansion of the city's suburban sprawl; and later as a labourer in the heart of the oil boom itself in Fort McMurray. It was for these self-described residencies that the New Brunswick native moved out West. Consequently, Friel's artistic practice frequently relies on complete and total immersion within an aspect of society he finds curious. Drawing from his own familiarity with this approach, Friel's primary aim with Mall Bear is to create an immersive experience for the viewer. From within the hodgepodge of collectibles and trinkets that Eau Claire has dissolved into over the years, Friel explores how the audience adapts to Mall Bear's placement within this unnatural habitat.
Mall Bear is the conclusion of a larger investigation into production and consumerism begun by the artist with Mall Bear's predecessor, House Bear. It was through the genesis of House Bear that Friel first became interested in the creation of artificial habitats, for which audience members are invited to assume responsibility. Friel emphasizes that The New Gallery's current, yet notably temporary, location in the commercially stagnant Eau Claire Market highlights Mall Bear's ultimately futile existence and is the ideal final resting place for his bear series. In less than one month, Mall Bear's verdant chia coat will wither and rot, leaving nothing but a memory that will persist until the next consumer trend defines the direction consumers will stampede in.
