Kuma the Bear

Matt Hill Projects fabricated Kuma, a monumental Corten steel bear, for Panorama Niseko, an alpine resort at the foot of Mt Yotei in northern Japan. The sculpture stands three metres tall alongside three cubs, forming a family group within the resort's snow-covered landscape, and was shipped to Hokkaido for installation.

In Hokkaido, the brown bear, or higuma, is both feared and revered. Powerful, fast and deeply tied to the region, it carries a presence that is impossible to ignore. Kuma was created with that feeling in mind — a commanding mother bear standing watch over her cubs.

Beside her, the three cubs bring warmth, family and story to the work. Together, they form a tribute to the Hokkaido brown bear — protective, untamed and unforgettable.

Corten steel was chosen for the same reason it appears across the Hokkaido landscape — its weathered surface deepens over time, allowing the sculpture to sit naturally within the alpine setting through every season. Kuma was fabricated in Australia and shipped to Niseko, where it was installed on site by a local team.