The “Contralto”

The “Contralto”, the bear with the double bass adorns the entrance of the city, as it is placed in the circle of M. Alexandrou Square.
It is the work of the Florinian artist George Bardakas, as part of his graduation project in the sculpture workshop of the Department of Visual and Applied Arts. Immediately after its presentation, the artist donated the work to the Municipality of Florina.
“The bear has strength, size and some time it retreats into hibernation. The bear without a boss plays its own double bass. In this way it survives in a sterile state and attempts to adapt to new places and times. To discover the key to one’s inner being, one’s deepest being, there is one way: the path of shadows, where the viewer cannot discern his own shadow,” says the artist.
Florina’s then mayor, Yannis Voskopoulos, pointed out: “This work expresses us as Florina and that is why we place it at the entrance of the city”.
The dimensions of the project are: 3,10m. x 1,90m. x 5,15m. For the construction
among other things, 2,310kg of scrap iron, sheet metal, round bars, round rods, plates, ball bearings, wire ropes, copper clamps, magnets, door hinges, angles, square beams, etc. were used for the construction.

SOURCE: www. neaflorina.gr-kontralto.
SOURCE OF PHOTOS: Christos Tegos