Giant Yellow Duck Floats in Sydney Harbor

What a wonderful thing to see — a giant yellow duck floated in Sydney Harbor in preparation for Saturday’s opening of the Sydney Festival, a nearly month-long arts and music celebration.

According to the maker, Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman:

“The Rubber Duck knows no frontiers, it doesn’t discriminate people and doesn’t have a political connotation. The friendly, floating Rubber Duck has healing properties: it can relieve mondial tensions as well as define them. The rubber duck is soft, friendly and suitable for all ages!”

It took three weeks to construct and takes about 30 minutes to inflate, using four blowers. It sits atop a 10-ton barge that both prevents it from blowing away and moves it forward.