Recently, the appearance of two giant rubber ducks has once again caused a sensation in the city! Since Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman created the rubber duck in 2007, he has been taking them around the world, and they first visited Hong Kong in 2013. Ten years later, the artist once again brought the ducks to Hong Kong to commemorate this special moment. However, do you know that besides creating giant rubber ducks, the artist has many other interesting works?
Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman studied at the Netherlands’ Kampen Art Academy in 2000, and then pursued a master’s degree at the Kunsthochschule Weissensee in Berlin, Germany. His works challenge viewers to examine their visual perception of everyday objects by recreating them in a familiar way. Hofman particularly aims to explore art in a friendly and approachable manner, and what could be more approachable than “innocent children’s toys.” Not content with just repurposing toys, Hofman later focused on creating giant versions of everyday items. Each time a new colossal artwork is unveiled, it becomes a popular spot for people to take photos.
Dutch Rotterdam Big Fox Bospolder fox 2020
The artist introduced a giant “Bospolder Fox” in the city of Rotterdam, the Netherlands, in 2020. This 16-meter-long animal holds a plastic bag in its mouth and stands tall in a busy intersection. This intersection separates the neighborhoods of Bospolder and Tussendijken, where foxes are often seen at night in this city area. Through this massive public artwork, the artist showcases the boundaries and conflicts between the urban and natural realms. Hofman believes that because many residents of Rotterdam come from elsewhere, they, like this fox, come to the city in search of a better life. Therefore, the city must open its doors to nature, newcomers, and new perspectives.
Further reading:
- June Exhibition Recommendations: Rubber Duck on a Sea Voyage, Makita Junko’s Summer Gallery Party, Du Haiquan and Li Huixian’s “Market Revolving”
- Escape the “Picasso’s ex-lover” label in half a lifetime! French legendary painter Françoise Gilot bravely explores the path of art and life
- Vienna Tourism Bureau AI Creative Promotion! Famous paintings and scenic spots are all replaced with cats, and experts are invited for an “art analysis”?
The Kraken 2017 at Shenzhen Park
The artist collaborated with UAP studio’s Shanghai team to create this massive immersive playground. Kraken is a site-specific artwork developed for the salt fields area. The inspiration for this artwork comes from the location’s harbor, which was once occupied by a theme park converted from a former Soviet aircraft carrier.
This artwork, named Kraken, is inspired by the legendary giant sea monster of the same name, known for attacking sailboats. Hofman’s creation, of course, is not as terrifying as the mythical sea creature, but instead presents a friendly and lovable octopus figure, creating an imaginative play space for children that is absolutely adorable.
Taiwan Taoyuan County Mid-Autumn Moon Rabbit 2014
In order to echo the “2014 Taoyuan Landscape Art Festival” and the Chinese traditional festival Mid-Autumn Festival, the artist exhibited this large-scale installation work, “Moon Rabbit,” at the Taoyuan Naval Base in Taiwan at that time. This white giant rabbit lazily lies on a small hill, with its arms open, looking up at the sky, appearing very leisurely.
The inspiration for this piece comes from the ancient Chinese folklore of “Chang’e Flying to the Moon,” where a rabbit on the moon was said to be making an elixir of immortality for Chang’e to consume. The artist suggests that after working on the moon for thousands of years, this rabbit might need a break, so they designed a comfortable lying position for it, which is quite whimsical!
Hippopothames 2014 floating on the River Thames in the UK
This large river hippopotamus, Hippopothames, made its appearance in the River Thames in the UK in 2014. Like the yellow rubber duck, it is a large-scale aquatic installation, measuring 21 meters long. It is partially submerged in the water, giving the impression of leisurely swimming. The artist believes that the purpose of creating this hippopotamus is to encourage everyone to temporarily escape from the stressful urban life and to remind them that interesting things may be brewing in everyday life.
Sichuan Dujiang Selfie Panda 2021
As the hometown of pandas, Sichuan is naturally filled with their adorable figures. This giant artwork, measuring 26 meters long, 13 meters wide, and 13 meters high, features a panda holding a selfie stick. In addition to responding to current popular cultural phenomena, the artwork also attracts community attention to the conservation of rare animals.
It is worth mentioning that the Panda selfie stick features a large LED screen with an embedded camera, simulating a real phone. The artwork encourages visitors to interact and have fun by taking selfies with the application.
Learn more: Florentijn Hofman
