Thirteen years after a teddy bear won over visitors at a Newquay arts festival, the German photographer behind the project is bringing his travelling companion back to Cornwall, where the story began.
Olaf Von Dombrowski unveiled The Travelling Teddy Bear at the Newquay Art8 Festival in 2013. What started as a quirky idea, photographing a small teddy bear exploring Britain, has grown into an international success with more than 100 exhibitions across England, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Scotland.
Now, after more than a decade on the road, the little bear is returning to the Duchy.
Olaf will first exhibit at Hugglets, the UK's largest teddy bear fair, at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham on September 20. Two days later, he and his wife and muse, Birgit, will head back to Cornwall. A selection of The Travelling Teddy Bear photographs will be displayed at the Merrymoor Inn in Mawgan Porth from September 22 to 24.
The project is more than a collection of cute teddy bear pictures. Olaf's work is rooted in storytelling, using the bear as a lens through which to view Britain's landscapes, coastline and landmarks. From beaches to tucked-away corners, familiar places become playful backdrops for the bear's adventures.
Whenever the bear returns from Cornwall, the journey continues online. Olaf shares new discoveries with more than 8,700 followers on Facebook: The Travelling Teddy Bear.
Since 2013, the project has travelled widely, attracting growing interest across Europe. In Germany, it has become a regular feature at British Flair at Gut Basthorst, an annual celebration of British culture that draws around 20,000 visitors. Olaf has been invited to exhibit there for the fourth consecutive year.
This month marks a particularly meaningful milestone: a return to Cornwall, where the photographic adventure first took shape.
Olaf and Birgit will be in the county throughout the exhibition and plan to take the teddy bear on another photographic journey around Cornwall, capturing new moments and revisiting old favourites.
For more information and updates visit https://www.facebook.com/TheTravellingTeddyBear?locale=en_GB
Teddy Bear Returns to Cornwall, Where Its Story Began