Sculptor Criticizes Food Safety with Art that Kids Would Crave…
Sculptures Made of Gummy Bears

by Brian Vaszily, founder of IntenseExperiences.com

Mixed media artist Ya Ya Chou has received awards and acclaim for her filmmaking, paintings, “found object” sculptures and more.

Will it melt if the light is on too long? Chandelier by Ya Ya Chou, made of Gummy Bears, beads, monifilament, plastic, metal and light bulbs.

But it is her Gummi Bear Series of sculptures that are bringing her by far the most attention. In these pieces -- some of which are fully functional, like the chandelier at the right-- the artist mainly employs (you guessed it) Gummy Bears to create the works, with the support of beads, wiring, canvas, mannequins and more.

Why Gummy Bears?

Says Ya Ya Chou in Echoes: Women Inspired by Nature (a 28-page eBook you can download now for free that profiles 21 female artists and their works, including some gorgeous color photos, based on a recent exhibition):

“The series of Gummi Bear sculptures originated from my concern about food safety. The bright colors and soft textures of children’s snacks pose an overly romantic picture that draws my attention to the dangerous ingredients inside them. Artificial food colorings and flavorings have been proven to cause nerve damage and reproductive disorder on animals, as well as developmental problems and hyperactivity in children, yet these toxic ingredients are still used to attract (young) consumers. By constructing a household scenario with the embellished snacks, I wish to pose the questions: Who consumes these foods? Who has the choice to choose?”

Simon, a Gummy Bear bear rug by Ya Ya Chou, made of Gummy Bears, faux nailtops on wire armature and canvas.

Some of the sculptures in the Gummi Bear Series include Simon, resembling a bear rug, Candelabra, and the only light fixture children may ever want to eat, Chandelier.

Chou grew up in Taiwan but moved to the United States in 1997 to attend the California Institute of the Arts. You can view the Gummi Bear Series and her other works at yayachou.com, where you will also see the upcoming gallery showings for the Gummis including in Pasadena and Los Angeles, CA.