Berlin Buddy Bear: A symbol of friendship
Berlin’s governing mayor, Kai Wegner, together with the senator for culture and social cohesion, Sarah Wedl-Wilson, and a delegation of nearly 40 Berliners, met last Friday with Namibian artist Rui Bernard Steenkamp in front of the SanlamAllianz building, which also houses the German Embassy in Namibia. The occasion was the unveiling of the Berlin Buddy Bear, which had originally arrived with a white, unpainted surface and was later designed and painted by Steenkamp.
“The Buddy Bear is a symbol of the deep and lasting friendship between Berlin and Windhoek, as well as between Germany and Namibia – may he always remind us of this bond,” the German Embassy noted on Facebook.
Steenkamp said: “My bear, larger than life, represents my vision of a friendship between Germany and Namibia and is a significant milestone in my artistic journey. This bear is an important step for me as I try to establish myself as an artist. It symbolises growth, resilience, and the pursuit of a promising future for our countries.”
PHOTO AND TEXT: Svenja Hecht
“The Buddy Bear is a symbol of the deep and lasting friendship between Berlin and Windhoek, as well as between Germany and Namibia – may he always remind us of this bond,” the German Embassy noted on Facebook.
Steenkamp said: “My bear, larger than life, represents my vision of a friendship between Germany and Namibia and is a significant milestone in my artistic journey. This bear is an important step for me as I try to establish myself as an artist. It symbolises growth, resilience, and the pursuit of a promising future for our countries.”
PHOTO AND TEXT: Svenja Hecht
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