Dutch artist Florentign Hofman's work doesn't look like anything I've posted on before. His portfolio includes a neon penguin (named Michael Moore?), a huge rubber duck, and a wooden muskrat. Hmmm. What the hell is going on here? Hofman sent us some words and photos to give us a clue. He writes:
"The work of Hofman is known for intriguing and interactive installations in public spaces. Obviously, he oscillates with great joy between performance (public) art and the domain of the sculpture (only to mention a few of his used media) and has a strong wish to amaze and make life a little more fun."
"The fact that Florentijn Hofman is not an average gallery-exhibited artist should be obvious. The world is a huge playground and he can choose just about any spot or material in which to display his installations."
"Asked by the borough of Delfshaven in Rotterdam to work on the site of a derelict block awaiting demolition Hofman painted the entire exterior of the property with a 2 micron layer of blue paint that transformed it into the most photographed section of the city. The application of the paint was intended to slow further deterioration. Such urban dereliction is usually a material reminder of the alienating power of urban planners and developers to disperse communities and erase local history. By amplifying the memory and meaning of the space for those people living in and passing through the neighbourhood, the surreal energy of Hofman’s work temporarily reclaims that alienation while the building awaits deconstruction via wrecking ball."
"The Loire River in France was the starting point of a project that ultimately became a giant rubber duck. Measuring 26 m in height, it may look like the favourite toy of Sesame Street’s Ernie, but it’s too big to fit into anyone’s bath (and it's impossible to ignore). According to Florentijn Hofman, the Canard de Bain crosses all bounderies and does not discriminate or have a political connotation. The friendly, floating Rubber Duck has healing properties; it can relieve mondial tensions as well as define them."
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