I painted The Bear of Berlin in response to a request for images about Berlin. I recalled a newspaper article I had read (2004) reporting on a Bear who had escaped from it's Zoo enclosure in central Berlin by swimming out across a lake. This bid for freedom and power represented by the bear became the focus for my painting and I tied the words into the composition by using the font from two posters for the film Cabaret, staring Liza Minnelli. Both posters were from the 1970's: one by Polish poster artist Wiktor Gorka and the other was the original Allied Artists 1974 poster. For me these visual elements created a strong and relevant visual interpretation of Berlin, subtly bringing together its past struggles and its present.

I paint on Manilla Allcard envelopes because it is a tough strong background. It responds well to the acrylic paint and keeps the work fresh and immediate. I choose these materials because I feel that, whilst retaining a sense of quality and permanence, they also reflect the sense of immediacy and accessibility that is associated with popular culture today.

© alice stallard | created at www.mrsite.com