UK Love Island star Lucie Donlan, 24, goes from appearing on reality TV to treading the boards – as she poses barefoot with a skateboard in California in the first decade of May 2022. (Photo by Instagram)

Women offer prayers on Valentines Day at the Trimurti Shrine, which is believed to bring love, in Bangkok on February 14, 2023. (Photo by Manan Vatsyayana/AFP Photo)

Axed Love Island stars Alima, Emily and Megan all went braless in very daring outfits last night, after appearing on Aftersun in London on July 21, 2025. (Photo by James Curley/The Sun)

(L to R) British model Leomie Anderson, English singer and television presenter Rochelle Humes, British television presenter from Blackburn AJ Odudu and English television, radio presenter and DJ Maya Jama attend the GQ Men Of The Year Awards in association with BOSS after party at The House of MOTY on November 16, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images)

Manchester City's English midfielder Kalvin Phillips (C) pours alcohol in the mouth of Manchester City's English midfielder Jack Grealish (L) as they celebrate on stage following an open-top bus victory parade for their European Cup, FA Cup and Premier League victories, in Manchester, northern England on June 12, 2023. (Photo by Oli Scarff/AFP Photo)

Young Japanese women pose with a green bear costumed person during the 'Earth Parade 2015' in Tokyo, Japan, Saturday, November 28, 2015. Ahead of the U.N. climate change summit in Paris starting this week, about 1,000 citizens and environmental activists took to the streets of Tokyo on Saturday, calling for strong actions to combat global warming. (Photo by Franck Robichon/EPA)

“This cheeky polar bear tried to hitch a lift off an unsuspecting driver by clambering into the back of his pick-up truck. The curious creature spent about half an hour inspecting the vehicle and its owner before casually trying to climb aboard. However, the truck must not have been up to scratch because the 7ft bear, weighing approximately 300lbs, promptly jumped back out and sauntered off”. – Barcroft Media. Photo: “Awright mate, any chance of a lift to the North Pole?” (Photo by Steven Kazlowski/Barcroft Media)

To produce the images that convey his fatalistic and ironic approach to life, tinged with hope, he needed the environment and knowledge of Mother Russia, oiled with a bit of bribery to certain circus trainers. Enter the Great Russian Bear, the personification of Russia for the last several centuries, onto center stage and into his studio. The bear is recognized as both brutish and cute – Misha was the mascot for the 1980 Olympic Games – and has remained a symbol of Russia since Tsarist times. In 2009 it is the symbol of the United Russia Party.