UNIVERSITY NEWS LAST UPDATED : 10 JULY 2017
After 90 hours of painting, a Birmingham City University student has created one of 100 giant bear sculptures currently taking over the city to showcase Birmingham’s artistic and cultural diversity.
‘The Big Sleuth’ is a free public art event taking place this summer, with statues in the shape of Malaysian sun bears gracing the region’s streets, parks and open spaces.
Illustration student at Birmingham City University’s School of Visual Communication, Lauren Buffery, has produced the ‘In Bloom Bear' which celebrates Malaysian flowers and is on display at B4 Parking on Weaman Street.
“You don’t see many flowers in Birmingham and ‘The Big Sleuth’ is a way of bringing vibrancy and colour to this great city” said 24 year-old Lauren, who lives in Great Barr.
Visitors to B4 Parking can see the ‘In Bloom Bear’ on display from 10 July in the car park’s arcade, with prizes and guest giveaways up for grabs.
Other bears on the 10-week public art trail include ‘Straw-bear-y’, ‘Bentley the Bearwood Bear’ and ‘Marli the Eco Bear’, who can be found at Millennium Point.
‘The Big Sleuth’ is presented by Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Wild in Art, following the success of ‘The Big Hoot’ owl trail in 2015.
Bears from ‘The Big Sleuth’ will later be sold at auction, with proceeds helping young people treated at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
Find out more about BA (Hons) Illustration.