One of the two enormous rubber ducks displayed at Hong Kong's Victoria Harbor was deflated on Saturday to protect it from extreme heat. The decision came just one day after the ducks arrived when organizers noticed the hot weather had caused its surface to stretch. The affected duck will be sent for repairs, while its counterpart will remain part of the 'Double Duck' pop-art installation.
Crowds of locals and tourists gathered at the waterfront under the scorching sun to admire the artwork. Some visitors were disappointed to see only one duck on display. A Hong Kong resident, aged 35, expressed that she had brought her child specifically to see the colossal bath toys, having seen a single yellow duck ten years ago.
A tourist from Thailand commented that her sister is a “big fan” of the giant ducks. “So, she was super sad because she could only see one.” The 'Rubber Duck' installation by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman debuted in Victoria Harbor a decade ago before visiting cities such as Osaka, Sydney, and Sao Paolo.
In May 2013, the artwork arrived in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory and gained global attention, partly because it mysteriously deflated overnight before being reinflated days later. As the exhibit returned to the harbor on Friday, it presented two ducks, each 18 meters (59 feet) tall – larger than the previous one.
“Double duck is double luck,” said artist Hofman. “The work emphasizes friendship and getting connected…‘Double Ducks’ is not about looking into the past but enjoying the moment together!”
