Artist Precious Okoyomon is preparing an installation in Queens featuring a 25-foot-long teddy bear [1].

The project marks a significant addition to the MoMA PS1 exhibition schedule, blending large-scale sculpture with conceptual themes of space and creativity. By utilizing the gallery's environment, Okoyomon aims to challenge traditional perceptions of art installations.

Okoyomon said the work is rooted in "finding inspiration in an empty room" [1]. This approach suggests a creative process that begins with minimalism and expands into the fantastical. The scale of the central figure serves as a focal point for the viewer's interaction with the surrounding space.

Central to the installation is the concept of "embracing absurdity" [1]. This philosophy guides the placement and scale of the teddy bear, transforming a familiar childhood object into a monumental presence. The contrast between the toy's soft connotations and its massive size is intended to evoke a sense of wonder and disorientation.

The installation is located at MoMA PS1 in Queens, New York [1]. While the exhibit focuses on the physical presence of the sculpture, it also serves as a commentary on the artist's internal journey, and the act of creation within a structured institution.

“finding inspiration in an empty room”

This installation reflects a broader trend in contemporary art where artists use extreme scale to disrupt the viewer's sense of proportion and familiarity. By placing a domestic symbol like a teddy bear in a professional gallery setting at a massive scale, Okoyomon tests the boundaries between childhood nostalgia and institutional art, forcing a re-evaluation of how absurdity can function as a legitimate creative catalyst.