The Traveller's Magazine
Dutch conceptual artist Florentijn Hofman made headlines around the world last week as his travelling rubber duck sculpture, aptly named “Spreading Joy Around the World” arrived in Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour.
Spreading Joy Around the World
Hofman’s floating “rubber” duck sculpture made its grand entrance on May 2nd, pulled by a tug boat across the harbour where it will be anchored until June 9th. The duck, which stands 16.5m tall, was given a warm and ceremonial welcome by the Hong Kong police band as it moved to its new home on the South Side of Ocean Terminal in HK’s Victoria Harbour.
This isn’t the duck’s first appearance. Spreading Joy Around the World has travelled to 10 countries already, stopping in 12 cities including Auckland, Sydney and Osaka. Hong Kong is the latest stop and who knows where it’ll travel to next!
The artist writes about his “rubber duck” project,
The Rubber Duck knows no frontiers, it doesn’t discriminate people and doesn’t have a political connotation. The friendly, floating Rubber Duck has healing properties: it can relieve mondial tensions as well as define them. The rubber duck is soft, friendly and suitable for all ages!
The sculpture certainly reconnects people with childhood memories, of countless bath times with their favourite yellow companion. People’s reaction? Smiles, laughter and astonishment (likely due to the duck’s size). For a moment people forget their problems and stop to watch the inflatable duck bob in the water.
Want to see Hofman’s duck in person? Catch flights to Hong Kong before June 9th.
