By MOOK Travel Life Network, Chen Guanxin, compiled and reported
Keelung’s yellow duckling is set to make its debut this weekend. Earlier, an inflation test at an open space on Daye Road in Beitou already attracted many people eager to catch a glimpse of the duckling. Today, it even “swam” into Pier 18 on the west side of Keelung Harbor for final testing, getting ready to officially meet fans in front of Marine Plaza on December 21.
After about three weeks, the Keelung yellow duckling has hatched successfully!(Image source / from the Yellow Duckling Comes to Keelung fan page)
After approximately three weeks of “incubation,” the Keelung yellow duckling has completed its sewing process and was slowly transported by vehicle into an open space on Daye Road in Beitou on the morning of the 16th. On-site staff hurriedly assembled a temporary fixed base, tested the blower, and then securely fixed the duckling before beginning the inflation test. After about seven or eight minutes, the 18-meter-tall, six-story-high yellow duckling finally made a proud appearance before everyone.
The robust yellow duckling will spend Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and Lunar New Year with fans in Keelung. (Image source / from the Yellow Duckling Comes to Keelung fan page)
As for the originally planned unique design that would allow the Keelung yellow duckling to rotate 360 degrees, it has been temporarily canceled. Initiator Huang Jing-tai also expressed gratitude and apologies to all the fans who were full of anticipation and concern. He pointed out that during the process of bringing the yellow duckling to Keelung Harbor, the original creator Florentijn Hofman’s words—“use our different perspectives to change the surrounding environment”—were very convincing. In addition, Keelung Harbor itself has relatively limited space, so the exhibition team proposed the concept of 360-degree rotation based on this philosophy.
Here’s what the inside of the little duck looks like. (Image source / from the Yellow Duckling Comes to Keelung fan page)
Huang Jing-tai said that after the floating platform was completed, the original creator Hofman felt it was better to return to simple joy and happiness—just like the leisurely floating yellow duckling seen while taking a bath in the bathtub during childhood. To respect Hofman’s original creative concept, the team had to painfully decide to cancel the idea of rotating the duckling and return to the creator’s vision of simplicity, joy, and happiness. The rotating floating platform will still be preserved, and it is believed that Keelung Harbor will host various exhibitions and performances in the future. It is hoped that this platform can bring more diversity to the shows and create more happiness for everyone.
● Extended reading:
Visit Keelung to see the yellow duckling—riding the painted train is the perfect choice
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