The "Yellow Duck" in Keelung has many "tricks"—Did Florentijn Hofman know nothing about them in advance?

Travel Center / Taipei Report

With just one day left before the Keelung Yellow Duck exhibition opens, the organizers recently issued a statement saying that the originally planned 360-degree rotation has been canceled because it conflicts with the creative vision of the Duck’s originator, Florentijn Hofman. However, according to insiders, not only was the 360-degree rotation not disclosed to Hofman for this Keelung exhibition, but he also had no prior knowledge of the singing "music box duck."Hofman is absolutely furious!”


▲ The Yellow Duck at Keelung Harbor. (Photo / Reporter Xu Wenbin)

Huang Jing-tai, initiator of the Keelung Yellow Duck project and also Speaker of the Keelung City Council, issued a statement on the 15th, saying that the Yellow Duck is a work of art symbolizing happiness and well-being with strong healing properties, and therefore respects the artist’s original intention—no more 360-degree rotation. However, insiders revealed that the organizers of the Keelung Yellow Duck exhibitionnot only failed to inform Hofman about the "rotating music box duck," but he may also have been unaware of other planned elements such as the Lucky Duck, Happy Duck, and Art & Culture Duck..

It is understood that after learning the details through Taiwanese media, Hofman immediately demanded that the Keelung organizers stop the rotating behavior of the duck. However, aside from the rotation, commercial activities such as ticketed exhibitions and the sale of Lucky Ducks, which were designed by the organizers, may also have been carried out without Hofman’s knowledge. Regarding the "out-of-control performance" in Keelung this time, Hofman might only find out when he comes to Taiwan for the opening of the exhibition.

Regarding whether Hofman was aware of the various peripheral duck activities, Lin Chun-chun, the coordinator of the Yellow Duck event, said that these peripheral ideas were all creative extensions beyond the Yellow Duck itself. The goal of the event was to make a breakthrough in Keelung’s tourism and creativity, bringing joy to the public. As for the 10 to 20 types of merchandise developed around the Keelung Yellow Duck, Lin said he is not sure whether Hofman authorized them.

▲ A ticketed "Lucky Duck" exhibition held at the Keelung Port Authority Building, featuring Angry Birds (left). (Right) A duck tunnel created by the exhibition team. (Photo / Provided by netizen)

In fact, the "Yellow Duck" designed by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman was never intended for excessive commercialization. Therefore, when exhibited in other countries, organizers have always adhered to the contract principles signed with the artist:No ticket sales, no corporate branding, no combining with other exhibitions, no excessive gimmicks, and no overproduction of merchandise.However, in Taiwan, the Yellow Duck seems to have gone off track, becoming an outright "commercial duck."

"The only official product is the one original Yellow Duck that Hofman intended to exhibit." The authorized Yellow Duck merchandise, priced at NT$399 for a miniature version, bears an official logo at the bottom. As for the various duck exhibitions held in Keelung and food events combined with hotels, according to Hofman’s usual exhibition practices, these are not in line with the creator’s original intent. The final stop of the Yellow Duck’s tour in Taiwan still has many unclear plans, and with ongoing public skepticism, how the upcoming duck exhibition will unfold remains to be seen.