Irresistable

I noticed the above on the Guardian's homepage this morning. It's a work by Florentijn Hofman, and it's part of Estuaire 2007, a mostly open-air exhibition on and in the Loire at Nantes, the brainchild of local curator Jean Blaise. As Joanna Moorhead writes in the Times:

It’s big (30 exhibits), it’s brave (most of the art is out of doors) and – in parts at least – it’s bonkers (think giant plastic ducks, and life-sized half-sunken houses).

While Anish Kapoor's work in the exhibition is housed in the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Nantes, most of the commissioned works are in or near the Loire, and can be viewed from the twice daily, two and a half hour boat trip that is part of the Festival.

Florentijn Hofman (b. 1977) is a Dutch artist who works across a range of media, from open-air installations to ink on paper. His work - from a brief Google trawl - is summoning up some funny Michael Parekowhai and Rick Killeen flashbacks for me:

Oh - and if you're inspired - the Guardian has opened up a wisequacks thread for punny comments on the big duck....

Images:

Florentijn Hofman, Canard de bain, 2007. Currently on show at Estuaire 2007, Nantes, France.

Florentijn Hofman, work produced for the social art project De Strip in Vlaardingen. From the Galerie West website.

Florentijn Hofman, En vacance (installation), 2005. From the Galerie West website.

Florentijn Hofman, Haan, 2005. 102 cm x 72.4 cm. Eeding ink on mc paper. From the Galerie West website.