A local version of Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman’s giant yellow duck has upset the artist, who has threatened to cut short the public display of his giant Rubber Duck installation in Keelung.
The local version, called the Dream Duck (夢想鴨), was produced by Yusheng Co and is the same size as Hofman’s creation, but has different facial features.
The company is renting No. 3 and No. 4 East Wharf from the Keelung Harbor Bureau to exhibit the “Dream Duck” for the upcoming Lunar New Year holidays.
Yusheng general manager Sun Yi-jen (孫逸人) said the Dream Duck cost more than NT$2 million (US$ 66,500) to construct.
“It is our own design, and we hope it will bring hope, happiness and love to the public,” he said.
After the news was reported, Keelung Harbor Bureau general manager Tsai Ting-yi (蔡丁義) said he would try to deter Yusheng from going ahead with the plan, adding that “business operations must be approved by the port authority. If problems exist, the approval will not be granted.”
Keelung City Council Speaker Huang Chin-tai (黃景泰) said an official notice was sent to Yusheng on Sunday, requesting it to stop its plan.
“Hofman was very insistent, saying that if local merchants produce their own giant inflatable duck, he would terminate his duck’s public display before the agreed period, ” Huang said.
“Hofman also spoke to the port authority and government officials, saying the ‘unreasonable conduct’ by local merchants must be stopped. Hofman said that if his giant Rubber Duck ends its display, any giant inflatable duck made by local merchants would be meaningless,” Huang added.
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