Rachel Lee Hovnanian introduced Poor Teddy in Repose, the largest manifestation of the Poor Teddy series which stood at 15 feet in Piazza Duomo, in Pietrasanta, Italy as a temporary installation during the artists’ You Are Not Alone: Angel’s Listening exhibition in Spring 2024.
Hovnanian created Poor Teddy in Repose as a reflection on childhood innocence disrupted by technology. This 15 foot bronze sculpture of a teddy bear with a knife plunged through its’ heart is a poignant statement about our contemporary society, where screens eclipse human interaction and toys as the ultimate pass-time for children - a knife to the heart for teddy.
The sobering statistics around children and screen use*, along with the artists’ personal experiences and observations, drove Hovnanian to create Poor Teddy in Repose as a comment on the effects of digital media on children, and a call to action for parents who hold the power to make meaningful change for the next generation.
*AACAP reports that on average children spend 4-6 hours a day watching or using screens.