EJ Son

The humorous and whimsical appearance of the giant teddy bear, Dancing Teddy, by EJ Son, obscures its much deeper meaning. Created during a time of isolation for Son, the work reflects the artist’s longing for warmth and connection and is inspired by the Korean television show I live alone, in which a teddy, fitted with a nanny cam, watches people at home. Ultimately, this work raises the ontological question: do we truly exist if no one is watching? Dancing Teddy draws attention to the contemporary social media culture, whereby the number of views and followers on the internet are the primary form of validation of an individual’s life.