SYDNEY, Australia - A giant rubber duck made its way through the waters of Sydney's Darling Harbor on Thursday, triggering some oohs and aahs amongst spectators.
The 85-foot-high yellow rubber duck is the work of internationally acclaimed Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman, who gained fame for his giant urban sculptures appearing in public places all over the world.
Hofman created the Rubber Duck in 2007. Ever since, the cute inflatable animal has travelled to countries around the world including New Zealand, Brazil and Japan.
With his giant sculptures the artist says he wants to force people to take a break from their daily routines. And it seems to work: spectators pause and smile when they spot Hofman's enormous sculptures, like the Rubber Duck, that often originate from everyday objects.
"It brings joy obviously and it brings astonishment and it brings people together," Hofman said. "We are living on a planet, we are one family and the global waters are our bathtubs. So it joins people," the artist added.
The Rubber Duck has come to Australia to mark the opening of the Sydney festival on Saturday, an arts event that runs for 22 days.
