This year, for the first time, Ljubljana will host the exhibition UNITED BUDDY BEARS, The Art of Tolerance. From 29 May to 17 July 2024, 145 two-metre-high bears, holding up their arms to spread friendship and optimism between the countries they represent, will be exhibited at the Republic Square, among them a newly painted Slovenian bear created by young artist Luka Rep.

Luka Rep, who painted the bear between 23 April and 8 May at the Rog Centre, is a student of the Academy of Visual Arts AVA in Ljubljana (generation 2021/2022) and a recipient of a scholarship for the talented awarded by the City of Ljubljana.

The painting of the Slovenian bear represents an interplay of faces of different genders, nationalities, ages and cultures, suggesting the indispensable and necessary presence of tolerance, compassion and solidarity in achieving mutual understanding, respect and peaceful coexistence. In the crowd of stylised faces, depicted in a quick, croquis style, there are highlighted figures who have decisively shaped Slovenian cultural history. It features Ivan Cankar, Alma Karlin, Zofka Kveder, Ivana Kobilca, Lili Novy, Jože Plečnik, France Prešeren and Primož Trubar. The painting is limited to three predominant colours: white, blue and red, alluding to the colours of the Slovenian flag. The added independent motifs, which dynamically diversify the painting, are depictions of the Idrija lace, a symbol of Slovenian identity, creativity and tradition.

The artist was chosen with a public call, as we wanted to support a younger generation of artists embarking on their career path. The project of selecting the artist was headed by the Public Institute Young Dragons with the support of the City of Ljubljana and the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Ljubljana.

A story of tolerance

The story of »Classic Buddy Bears« began in June 2001 in Berlin, when the project's initiators, Eva and Klaus Herlitz, launched a unique initiative that helped develop street art in Berlin. The mission of the standing »Buddy Bear« with raised arms is to spread friendship and optimism. The project developed into the famous bear story and the »Buddy Bear« bears became an unofficial symbol of Berlin.

In 2002, artists from around the world created the »United Buddy Bears« circle of supporters in Berlin to encourage people to think about international understanding and peaceful coexistence. At the time, ambassadors of countries invited artists to paint a two-metre-high sculpture of a bear representing their country, its special features, culture, history, people, landscape, economy, music or traditions. In this way, the bears became a reflection of the cultural diversity of our world. In 2004, a colourful group of travelling bears set off on a world tour, only briefly interrupted by the epidemic. And now the bears are coming to Ljubljana.
Ljubljana is a tolerant and comradely city where different people live together in mutual respect. Mayor Zoran Janković has always stressed that, in Ljubljana, this is not just a slogan but a value we live by.

Third Paradise arrangement

The exhibition of bear sculptures will be on display in Republic Square from 29 May to 17 July 2024. The bears will be arranged in the shape of Pistoletto's symbol of the Third Paradise, which reflects a free artistic view on the issue of coexistence in this human and more-than-human world. The idea of including the Italian artist Michelangelo Pistoletto in this project stems from his exhibition at the Cukrarna Gallery and also our otherwise close relationship with him and his mission. Pistoletto also drew the symbol of the Third Paradise in his entry into the Golden Book of Ljubljana, which, on a subtle level, represents the values that the City of Ljubljana wants to convey through this exhibition.

The exhibition in Ljubljana is a collaboration between the City of Ljubljana, the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Ljubljana and Buddy Bear Berlin, backed by numerous partners and supporters of the project.