"In 1981 – McManus Museum & Art Gallery in Dundee invited submissions from local artists on the theme – The Nuclear Issue.
Pete Horobin proposed a Bureau of Investigation which was set up in an office adjacent to the gallery. On the wall of the gallery was an A0 sized photo-positive dyeline print of Conversations With a Bear – beside the composite image was a small black & white monitor – without sound – sometimes it showed the bear in a static pose – other times it showed the interior of the Bureau of Investigation – without sound.
The public was invited to make an appointment to meet Pete Horobin to talk about The Nuclear Issue – events in the bureau were recorded on VHS video by Fergus MacLauchlan –
Pete Horobin was seated @ a desk & dressed formally with a white shirt & tie."
This artwork was intended to highlight the futility of political conversations between Russia – symbolised by the bear - & state bureaucracy – this failed mute dialogue between opposing forces & the public’s impotence in this debate was mediated here by Pete Horobin.
The artwork survives as the original photo-positive in artpool – VHS tapes - & the bear." (10.04.2026 by haha)