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The ‘Pissing Polar Bear’ at the Groninger Museum no longer has to hold its pee. The remarkable work of art has caused great distress among passers-by since its unveiling on Friday. “Phew, I really need to pee now.”
Even before he starts urinating, the enormous polar bear attracts a lot of attention. Pedestrians pause for a moment and cyclists look back. “I saw it in the news this morning. Well, this one is worth a photo,” says a lady with sunglasses and a long white coat as she grabs her phone from her jacket pocket.
The six-meter-high work of art stands out beautifully against the clear blue sky. Afterwards, a primary school class with junior children is parked in front of the statue. “Yes, boys, imitate it!” the teacher shouts enthusiastically.
Artist Florentijn Hofman from Delfzijl will set the striking work of art in motion on Friday morning together with Chelsea (10), children’s ambassador of the Groninger Museum. At the push of a digital button, the Pissing Polar Bear – the official name of the artwork – comes into operation and a stream of piss splashes into the canal.
‘Piss off’
With the image, Hofman wants to draw attention to climate change. “We are treating the polar bear’s habitat poorly because the polar caps are melting,” he explains. “So now he comes to our habitat and says: piss off. ”
The arrival of the white statue coincides with the opening of the Children’s Biennale in the Groninger Museum. This is an interactive exhibition suitable for all ages. The works of art in the exhibition were created in collaboration with children by artists from home and abroad, including Hofman himself. The theme of the biennale is A better place, so the artwork about climate change fits in well with this.
In his work the artist tries to approach subjects with humor. Also in the case of the Pissing Polar Bear. Every now and then he stops urinating for a moment. “Sometimes he cuts back for a moment, and then it turns out that there is more to it,” Hofman explains with a broad smile. “And in the evening the trickle turns yellow like piss.”
The artwork was previously located in Arnhem and Amersfoort. In the latter case, not everyone was happy with the urinating image. It caused a lot of unrest among local residents who were bothered by the irregular, clattering sound of the piss jet in the water. That’s why the bear had to pee there at night.
‘I’m not that afraid of the noise’
Local residents in Groningen are not concerned about the arrival of the polar bear in dire need. They have been specially invited to attend the opening. “I’m not that afraid of the noise,” says Jan Nijzink. He lives diagonally opposite the museum, the senior points in the direction of the Ubbo Emmiussingel. “That’s still quite a bit, so I’m not worried.”
But doesn’t that pissing polar bear set the wrong example for the Groningen students who walk home drunk at night and desperately need to pee? No, according to the artist himself. “The image is about hypocritical behavior, which I want to denounce.”
Yet the image also evokes other associations among the spectators: “Phew, I really have to pee now,” says an older gentleman to his wife. “You get that when you get a little older.”
