Double happiness: People taking pictures of the ‘Double Ducks’ in Hong Kong harbour. — Reuters
Hong Kong: Ten years after a giant inflatable yellow duck captivated crowds in Hong Kong, the art installation returned to the city’s Victoria Harbour as a double-bill exhibition.
The twin 18m-tall sculptures by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman are part of the Rubber Duck series that has made appearances in major cities since its 2007 debut.
The faddish artwork previously made headlines in Hong Kong for drawing huge audiences and for accidental deflations, including when it shrank to a flat disk next to a ferry pier in 2013.
Following stormy weather yesterday before they were released onto the water, Hofman joked that the two ducks “took a bath”.
“In a world where we suffered a pandemic, wars and political strife, I think it is time to bring back the double luck,” he said.
Setting sail in front of the Convention and Exhibition Centre, the mighty ducks moved through the harbour before stopping near government headquarters.
Office workers strolled by during lunch breaks to snap selfies, while others carried yellow duck balloons to celebrate the sunny duo’s new perch.
“I think it’s very good to have the duck back after 10 years because it is simple happiness, after the pandemic,” one admirer named Vivian said.
“It’s a form of flashback,” said 32-year-old bank employee Zenj. “I think it brings luck.”
Even after Hofman’s duck exhibitions slowed in the mid-2010s, the creature has found new life as a protest symbol in Brazil, Russia and Thailand. — AFP
