Humour, sensation, maximum impact; internationally renowned artist Florentijn Hofman (Delfzijl, 1977) does not settle for less. His sculptures are large, very large, and are bound to make an impression. Take Rubber Duck (2007) for example: a gigantic 26-metre-high yellow rubber duck. It is an inflatable, based on the standard model that children from all four corners of the world are familiar with. The impressive rubber duck travels the world and pops up in many different cities: from Auckland and São Paulo to Osaka. A very positive artistic statement that immediately connects people to their childhood. Another example is Fat Monkey (São Paulo, 2010), a huge monkey tied together from 10,000 brightly coloured flip- flops, the Brazilian shoe par excellence. The monkey is lying stretched out in the park, where his 15-metre length makes passers-by stop dead in their tracks.

photo lorentijnhofman.nl

Hofman’s sculptures often originate from everyday objects. A straightforward paper boat,
a pictogram of an industrial zone or mass-produced little toy figures can all serve as sources. They are all ready-mades, selected by Hofman for the beauty of their forms. Subsequently he crafts these into clear and iconic images; cartoonish blow-ups of reality that alienate and unsettle through their sheer size and use of materials. Nevertheless they are immediately identifiable and have an instant appeal. Inflatables, window stickers, agricultural plastic sheeting: for Hofman any material is suitable for turning into art.

photo lorentijnhofman.nl

The skin of Big Yellow Rabbit (Örebro, 2011) for example consisted of thousands of Swedish shingles. A wooden frame was covered in reed for Muskrat (2004). For Look-out Rabbit (2011) he screwed together many wooden planks and for Fat Monkey he used the aforementioned flip-flops. Hofman’s projects are often very labour-intensive. Gravity is being defied though by his love of materials and craft.

photo lorentijnhofman.nl

photo lorentijnhofman.nl

The Feestaardvarken is a 30 meter long concrete sculpture which has the appearance of a abstracted aardvark with a golden partyhat on. The work is site specific made and was commissioned by Burgers’ Zoo. The sculpture is a present from this 100th years anniversary celebrating zoo to the city of Arnhem.

photo lorentijnhofman.nl

The Cardboard Animals we made with a primary school in Rotterdam (NL), making enlargements in cardboard of the children’s their own stuffed animals. First the pupils designed them in clay and painted them. After this we enlarged two of them in cardboard.

For the skin we lasered at Snijlab 2300 pieces of cardboard and painted them in gouache of what to become the outer surface of the huge carboard stuffed animals.

photo lorentijnhofman.nl

Solo show Dushi

A solo show inspired by the toys and (cuddle)sculptures of children, where the change of scale completely changes their function and feeling.

photo lorentijnhofman.nl

photo florentijnhofman.nl

photo florentijnhofman.nl

via florentijnhofman.nl