Bear with it...
The sculpture series "Bear with it..." is inspired by the Japanese good luck charm and talisman known as "kumade."
About Kumade
The oldest recorded rake was a weapon, used by knights who attached iron claws, resembling a bear's paw, to the end of a long handle during the late Heian period (around 800 AD). It was employed to hook and topple enemies or drag them off horseback. In modern Japan, rakes are tools made from bamboo or wood, used in various applications such as gathering dried leaves, raking hay, softening soil, and leveling ground for agriculture and garden maintenance.
The rake has undergone various historical transformations and has developed into a lucky charm used in festivals. "Tori no Ichi rakes" are sold at Tori no Ichi, a traditional Japanese festival held every November, particularly famous at the Otori Shrine in Asakusa and Haneda in Tokyo. This event is a festival praying for prosperity in business, safety in the household, and warding off evil spirits, with the purchase of rakes symbolizing these wishes. The rake, named after a "bear's hand," is intended to gather bountiful harvests and good fortune. As a lucky charm, these rakes are made from bamboo or wood and are decorated with colorful paper, fabric, and treasures, available in sizes from small to human-sized. It is believed that buying a larger rake than the one purchased the previous year will lead to greater prosperity.