Before it had even arrived, word on social media sites had spread about the duck and crowds gathered in an industrial section of the city to watch it get pumped up. When it was time to tow the duck to its temporary home next to a waterfront shopping mall, traffic jammed nearby streets. As it was being pulled by a tugboat, the duck was serenaded for 30 minutes by the city's official police band and greeted by girls from a dance school pirouetting in orange tutus and yellow feather headdresses.
Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman came up with the idea of the 54-foot tall creation which dwarfed other boats as it was towed past the city's iconic skyline by a tugboat.
The giant yellow sculpture has been transported around the globe since 2007, visiting cities including Sydney, Sao Paulo, and Amsterdam
The artist hopes the work will bring people together and encourage a connection with public art.
"The duck is a yellow catalyst," says Florentijn Hofman.. The artist explains that it was designed to "spread joy."
Mr. Hofman previous works include a giant pig, frog and bear. Mr. Hofman said before this month's launch, he had already received a number of requests from residents asking him to bring the duck to Hong Kong, saying the city was a gloomy place in need of a pickup.
I love the idea of the giant rubber duck; it is so quirky and random. I think the artists idea behind it is really refreshing, to "spread joy." I think we focus so much on work and there is such a depressing emphasis on meeting objectives and targets that the giant rubber duck gives the stressed out city a moment to just laugh at something enjoyable. I hope it comes to London next!
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