One of the most recognizable subjects in Pauta Saila's sculpture, the dancing bear combines the artist's close familiarity with Arctic wildlife with a characteristic sense of humour and animation. Although Pauta was also an accomplished draughtsman and printmaker, it is for his sculptures, and especially his marvellously animated bears, that he is best known.

In this particularly personable sized work, the bear rises on a single hind leg in a feat of improbable balance. Its heavy torso twists to one side, the free leg kicks outward, and the forepaws stretch in opposing directions, as though the animal has been caught at the height of some spirited performance. There is something wonderfully human in its exuberance, yet nothing diminishes its distinctly ursine character. The thick neck, broad shoulders, powerful haunches and small, inquisitive head retain the formidable substance of a polar bear. Sharp incisions describe the claws, while small inset teeth gleam within the open mouth.

Particularly effective is the contrast between mass and movement. Saila has taken a substantial block of stone and made it appear momentarily weightless, capturing the bear at an improbable instant of balance. The gently turned head and open mouth add to its animated character, while the asymmetrical arrangement of the limbs gives the sculpture a different silhouette from virtually every angle. Both humorous and physically assured, the work exemplifies Saila's ability to imbue the polar bear with an engaging personality while retaining the strength and solidity of the animal itself.

MBL