Huge global rubber duck resurfaces in Norfolk, USA

The 40-foot Rubber Duck by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman made its appearance in the Hague inlet at the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Virginia, on 17 May.

The cheerful inflated sculpture will float outside the museum till 26 May to commemorate its reopening after a major renovation.

This is the Rubber Duck's second US performance. The first one was at the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust's International Festival of Firsts in September 2013.

Universal symbol for happiness
Creator of the duck is Florentijn Hofman. He designed it for his 'Spreading Joy Around the World' tour in 2007. According to Hofman his extraordinary sculpture immediately connects people to their childhood.

His description of the sculpture: 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 global tensions as well as define them.

Hofman's famous duck has floated in waters around the world, in cities like Amsterdam, Sydney, Osaka, Sao Paolo, Hong Kong, Pittsburg and Kaohsiung (Taiwan), attracting over a million people.

More information
Studio Florentijn Hofman
Rotterdam, the Netherlands
+31 10 844 97 25
www.florentijnhofman.nl
and
Chrysler Museum of art
Rubber duck May 17-26
www.facebook.com/RubberDuckatChrysler

Rubber Duck comes to Norfolk: everybody loves the duck, but is it art?