Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Keelung City Government to make the harbor city the next host of his giant Rubber Duck, Keelung City Council Speaker Huang Ching-tai (黃景泰) said yesterday.
“The yellow duck is scheduled to dock in the Keelung Harbor in late December, where it will remain for at least six weeks and celebrate Christmas, the New Year’s and the Lunar New Year with residents and tourists,” Huang said.
Huang said Keelung’s duck would be an 18m tall customized version that would be built by a Taiwanese company in accordance with Hofman’s design. That is not as large as the artist’s 2007 creation, which reached 26m, but is bigger than the ones that visited Hong Kong (16.5m), Sydney (15m) and Osaka (10m).
Huang said the giant duck would be donated to the city afterwards.
Hofman is to arrive in Taiwan on Aug. 5 and sign a contract with the city government on Aug. 19, Huang said.
Keelung Mayor Chang Tong-rong (張通榮) said the city government would make every effort to ensure a smooth stay for the yellow duck.
Greater Kaohsiung and New Taipei City (新北市) were also interesting in a visit by the duck after the one in Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour created a frenzy during its 39 day-stay.
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