The polar bear population in the Svalbard archipelago is around 3,000 which exceeds the number of people that reside in the town of Longyearbyen. While encounters with the animals in the town are rare, Svalbard Polar Bear Signs warn residents and visitors of the potential danger they face when venturing beyond the limits of the town. In doing so, these signs have become icons in their own right that signify a spirit and reality that defines the entire community.
From Practical to Iconic
The message on the sign is translated as, “applies to all of Svalbard,” which is connected to a law that says anyone traveling outside of settlements like Longyearbyen must be equipped with suitable means of scaring off polar bears. These polar bear warning signs underscore the polar bear threat that exists for anyone traveling outside of settled areas, with Longyearbyen being the largest.
Since Svalbard is one of the few places in the world where people need to be aware of the danger posed by wildlife in this manner, these polar bear signs have become icons that compel visitors to pose for pictures and are featured on a variety of products. They are also utilized as a means of identity on countless maps and guides to the region as well. This connection has allowed the Svalbard Polar Bear Signs to represent a practical safety issue for the community while also conveying a connection to the natural world of this Arctic region that is about midway between the northern tip of Norway and the North Pole.
Countless organizations and companies across Longyearbyen and all of Svalbard utilize imagery associated with polar bears in one way or another, highlighting their iconic nature and how they’ve come to represent the entire region. This connection is further showcased in what are otherwise simply practical road signs, highlighting what it means for the ordinary to become so much more for audiences of all types.
Spirituality and Practicality
Simple signs have become icons for cities and entire states but few are connected to the spirit of an entire area while also serving such an important practical purpose like the Svalbard Polar Bear Signs. They showcase what’s possible when the ordinary is thought of and positioned in a totally new way.
