Anyone visiting Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour Thursday was in for a treat as a 54 foot rubber duck was floating in the water, according to CNN.com.
For the past couple weeks, the media had been building up to the duck’s arrival.
The massive inflatable sculpture can be attributed to Dutch artist Florentijin Hofman. He said he was pleased with the way his work was received and was excited to be in Hong Kong. It was his first visit to the city.
"I've wanted to come for years -- and my duck made it here before me!" he exclaimed.
The duck’s reception was quite spectacular. A band of brass instruments and a host of cameras were there to greet the duck as it pulled up near Ocean Terminal.
“Hong Kong has been changed forever,” he said.
Hong Kong is not the duck’s first stop. It’s been across the globe—Osaka, Sydney, Sao Paolo and Amsterdam.
Many people play with rubber ducks when they are children. However, Hofman says this sculpture is not just for kids.
"I see it as an adult thing. It makes you feel young again. It refers to your childhood when there was no stress or economic pressure, no worry about having to pay the rent," he said.
Although the mood during the duck’s arrival was one of joy and laughter, Hofman said he expects his sculpture to provoke other emotions as well.
"If it makes you smile, then that's OK, but maybe it makes you cry because of the urban environment. I make work not to give answers but to question things," he said.
The 36-year old artist created the idea in 2001. What may have started out as just an uncomplicated idea has grown to much more.
"It's getting complex because I have so many thoughts about it and so many minutes of talking and thinking about it," he said.
The duck will make its next stop in the United States. Which city, or cities, will it visit?
"I can't say, it's confidential," the artist said.
The duck will remain in Hong Kong until June 9.
