Florentijn Hofman is a contemporary Dutch artist with a unique visual language and esthetic approach to art creation. Born in 1977, he entered the art scene with a bang in 2005 by creating a giant bird for the Crossing Border Festival.

One of the main characteristics of Hofman’s artistic technique is the creation of large-scale odd sculptures with oversized proportions, mostly performed in a playful mood. The sculptor usually uses bright, simple colors to create a cheerful impression on the audience. His installations often interact with their locations – popular urban and waterfront places. Those who see them in person underline the unique appeal of nostalgic and childhood themes that can be traced in Florentijn Hofman’s work.

“Rubber Duck” by Florentijn Hofman

The best-known work by Hofman is probably “Rubber Duck,” a sculpture that was introduced to the public for the first time in Saint-Nazaire, France, in 2007 and has been recreated in many places since then. This huge artwork made of inflatable PVC was later displayed in Sydney, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, and Seoul. The installation was also on display in the cities of Taiwan in 2013-2014. When displayed in Los Angeles, “Rubber Duck” contributed to environmental sustainability by being part of The Great Los Angeles River CleanUp campaign. It’s interesting that the size of this installation varied every time, with the largest being 85 feet tall.

Florentijn Hofman’s intention behind “Rubber Duck” was to make a symbol of happiness and unity by an almost universal feeling of childhood nostalgia. The artist shared his desire to spread joy across borders without linking the sculpture to any culture, location, or politics. In a more universal sense, “Rubber Duck” symbolizes peace and global unity, combined with a unique fleur of playfulness typical of Hofman’s art.

Florentijn Hofman’s Ephemeral Art

Most of Hofman’s sculptures are temporary, thus revealing the artist’s unique appropriation of ephemeral art. For instance, his globally famous “Rubber Duck” has been changing places for years, and every time, it’s created anew. Florentijn Hofman positions his art objects in a way that prevents their commodification, as many contemporary artworks end up in private collections to never see the world again.

The temporary nature of Hofman’s art is his contribution to public access to artwork and his personal interpretation of art’s transient nature. Focusing specifically on his “Rubber Duck,” one can see how the artist employs a simple idea to attain a big social impact.