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- Florentijn HofmanArtist <a href="http://www.florentijnhofman.nl" target="_blank">Florentijn Hofman</a> has created a gigantic yellow rubber duckie and sent it floating down the Loire River in France, where the temporary sculpture brings a smile to the faces of all the people it passes. The <a href="http://inhabitat.com/big-yellow-bunny-made-from-local-swedish-materials-is-easily-the-size-of-a-building/">oversized sculpture</a> bobs and weaves, bringing onlookers together as it travels downstream.1
- Florentijn Hofman<a href="http://inhabitat.com/cute-gigantic-muskrat-sculpture-pops-up-in-the-dutch-countryside/" target="_blank">The Dutch artist created</a> the giant yellow duckie with the mission of bringing people together simply through the presence of art.2
- Florentijn HofmanTreating the Loire as a giant bubble bath, The Rubber Duck brings a message of joy, without political or sociological connotation, its bill twisted into a child like smile.3
- Florentijn HofmanThe duck itself is a durable vessel, made from inflatable rubber-coated PVC, a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/turanor-planetsolar-worlds-largest-solar-ship-set-to-complete-trip-around-the-world/" target="_blank">pontoon boat</a>, and generator to help propel it forward downstream.4
- Florentijn HofmanIt gently moves throughout the environment without disrupting the nature of the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/hannes-bends-eclipse-installation-opens-our-eyes-to-the-artificial-reef-catastrophe/" target="_blank">marine life</a> in the river below. Rising 82 feet by 82 feet wide, the bath time toy conjures up childhood memories and nostalgic narratives, undeniably creating smiles as it passes through each town.5
- Florentijn HofmanHofman’s work often deals with simplistic happiness, created as a diversion to ease the tensions of modern life. Experiencing his <a href="http://inhabitat.com/3013-installation-made-from-recycled-wood-cascades-down-a-london-building/" target="_blank">oversized installations</a> gives onlookers a moment of serenity, amidst a time of economic and political turmoil.6
- Florentijn HofmanTraveling a 40 mile stretch from Saint-Nazaire to Nantes, the Rubber Duck traveled to France as part of the Loire Estuary art exhibition. The Rubber Duck has already delighted the shores of both Osaka and <a href="http://inhabitat.com/a-sao-paulo-eco-village-receives-brazils-first-solar-track/" target="_blank">Sao Paulo</a>, and will likely make its way to other waterways around the world.7