I am an 80’s Bear in 2010.
Robinson has a vivid memory of the framed family portrait which remained for years in his mothers lower bedroom draw, which previously had sat on her bedside table before his parents divorce. He was able to recall details from the photo which he had not seen for over 10 years, yet he has no recollection of the day the photo was taken.
His now divorced parents are together in the photo, his brother stands next to his mum, the artist next to his dad, and in the middle stands the bright pink 80’s plush Love-A-Lot Care Bear. The two brothers both look worried, whilst the proud parents both wear huge smiles on their faces. Robinson’s mother recently commented when I spoke to her about the photo, how well Paul was dressed in his matching green-stripped clothes, down to green-stripped socks.
Robinson’s series ‘The Pink Bear’ has transformed a distant memory by removing the bear from the context of a family portrait, and placing it into surroundings similar to that of a real bear. In the forest Robinson’s bear is no longer a mascot for a theme park or TV show but has become a mystical figure of a fantasy make believe world in his mind. The Pink Bear is not a man in a costume, it is an alter ego. The partially costume dressed figure is the transformation between reality and make believe, innocence and corruption. The pink bear has a whimsical sense of playfulness through it’s association with childhood memories, yet remains firmly attached to adult hood through the tainted surfaces that surround the character in the abstract spaces of his paintings.
Robinson believes an old photo or memory can allow one to essentially ‘time travel’, helping one-shift places for a moment. At the opening of ‘Page 2’ Robinson captured portraits of the guests on the opening night with the pink bear, hoping that he would create memories that the guests can keep.
Born in Grimsby, England
Date of Birth: 25.09.1982
Education
2002 – 2005
BA (Hons) Fine Art, University College for the Creative Arts, Canterbury
2001 – 2002
BTEC Art & Design Foundation, Grimsby College of Art & Design
