DUTCH artist Florentijn Hofman, known for his giant inflatable yellow duck installation that travels around the world, has joined Shenzhen’s Fu [+] Infill Plan for a three-year collaboration in art. The announcement was made during a ceremony held Friday at the Shenzhen Book City CBD Store in Futian District.

Several public art exhibitions and performances have been held under the Fu [+] Infill Plan with “exploring the beauty of the city and enhancing cultural confidence” as the core. Starting from Futian District, the plan aims to coordinate with various cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and connect internationally, discovering and developing urban aesthetics, and creating public cultural and artistic spaces.

Dotted with Hofman’s iconic little yellow ducks everywhere, Friday’s ceremony venue was packed with local enthusiasts. Hofman introduced his past works and expressed his hope that the audience could get inspired from their lives. When an audience member asked how to cultivate children’s artistic aesthetics, he suggested taking children to museums, even if it might be boring, and parents should encourage their doodling and handicrafts, spend more time with their children in art activities, and let them freely draw and scribble.

During his trip to Shenzhen, Hofman also visited representative cultural venues in Futian District, such as the Shenzhen Museum of Contemporary Art and Urban Planning, the Shenzhen Concert Hall, and the Shenzhen Library where he was awed by locals’ enthusiasm for reading. He was also amazed by the scene of lush greenery coexisting with skyscrapers as viewed from the top of the Ping An Finance Center.

Known for his playful and larger-than-life installations, such as the “Rubber Duck” floating in rivers and harbors around the world and the “Selfie Panda” sculpture displayed in Sichuan’s Dujiangyan City, Hofman expands his imagination by merging local culture into his artworks and provokes interaction.

His 10-meter-tall octopus installation, “Kraken,” displayed at Yantian Central Park in Shenzhen, draws inspiration from the site’s harbor-side location, providing an inclusive and imaginative space for children and families. His “Bubblecoat Elephant” perched overlooking the rooftop edge of the MixC World mall in Nanshan District looks like it’s watching over the people down below.

Social engagement and communication are key elements in his creations as he seeks to generate an encounter for viewers by sharing his passion for aesthetics within the public realm. The whimsical and cheerful nature of his pieces allows the public to explore art in an inclusive, sociable and enjoyable way and experience the world through a renewed perspective.(Cao Zhen)