On Sunday 15th September, as part of Greenpeace’s Save The Arctic campaign, a giant polar bear marionette named Aurora will descend on London. This specially commissioned super-puppet, the size of a London double decker bus and weighing around three tonnes, will take 15 puppeteers to operate and 20 volunteers to haul her through the streets of London. As Aurora explores the city, she will make guttural rumblings, with her roar bringing together the sounds of ice cracking, children roaring and animals bellowing to create a sound which is truly glacial and epic. Passing some of the capital’s most iconic buildings, she will be followed by thousands of supporters on foot and bike, as well as a parade of Arctic-inspired carnivalesque performers.
Designed by Christopher Kelly, Aurora will be a steampunk inspired work of art: part polar bear and part ship. Her legs will lift via pulleys operated from the inside and her feet will be hauled by puppeteers on the ground to create a bear’s realistic curved gait. She will be covered in reclaimed and replica parts, including rigging, portholes, sails and a ship’s wheel. Certain to delight and inspire attendees of all ages, her head will move, her jaws will open, her eyes will roll and as the fabric billows, it will look as though she is breathing. Following steampunk tradition, the machinery, technology and inner-workings of Aurora will also be on show, giving an insight into the fascinating workings of this giant spectacular.
Fashion and props designer Christopher Kelly, winner of the Dazed and Confused Fashion in Film award, has created the giant bear after taking early consultation with fashion set designer Simon Costin, who works with the likes of fashion photographer Tim Walker and fashion designer Alexander McQueen. Aurora has been manufactured by Factory Settings, whose client list includes Lady Gaga, Punchdrunk, Royal Opera House, the London 2012 closing ceremony and the opening ceremony for the Paralympics. Drawing inspiration from street theatre experts Royal de Luxe, as well as the movements of real bears in the Arctic, the event is certain to entrance and delight spectators of all ages.
Aurora will be the focal point for the UK leg of Greenpeace’s global day of action to protect the Arctic, which will stretch both sides of the hemisphere, and bring tens of thousands of people to the streets in a number of different mass cycling events called Ice Rides. Specially commissioned by Greenpeace to represent the global support for its campaign, Aurora’s fur will be made of ragged fabric which carries the names of over 3 million Greenpeace supporters who have signed up to demand that oil and gas drilling in the Arctic be banned. London will be one of 70 cities worldwide holding a day of action and the Aurora parade will be the biggest event happening globally as part of the campaign.
Commenting on the project Greenpeace action creator, Hannah Davey said:
“We think that when Londoners see Aurora they’re going to be blown away. Anybody who came down to the Mall to see the Sultan’s Elephant will definitely want to be in town that weekend as she’s pulled past some of the most famous landmarks in the world. And of course the journey of this bear is going to be that much more poignant because she’ll carry in her fur the names of the millions of people who’ve joined the campaign to save the Arctic.”
Commenting on Greenpeace’s day of action, Greenpeace campaigner Sara Ayech said:
“When we began this campaign to defend the Arctic just over a year ago our aim was to engage people across the world with our demand that the Arctic was too environmentally precious and vital to the planet’s wellbeing to allow oil companies like Shell to exploit its natural resources. The sheer weight of numbers who have signed up to support us shows that people across the globe don’t want the Arctic put at risk.
“That is why tens of thousands of people will come onto the streets across the world on Sunda the 15th September and demand that the international community makes the Arctic an internationally protected region, so companies like Shell are stopped from playing a reckless game of Russian roulette with this vitally important region, and our climate.”
Full Details: www.greenpeace.org.uk/aurora /
Hashtag: #Aurora
