Developed through the Enneagram’s Type Eight – the Challenger – the work combines the symbolic figure of a bear with the form of a sword. Referencing Roman and Viking weapons, these historical forms are exaggerated through a deliberately childlike sculptural language, transforming the sword into an ambiguous emblem of strength, protection and confrontation.
Its black-and-red palette intensifies this sense of aggression and defence. Accompanied by a matching sheath, the sculpture can be carried and activated through performance.
Shown in COUNCIL OF THE NINE, Wild Trumpets, London, 2025.