Thursday Salute to Originals: Things Gone Squirrely

A towering squirrel sculpture peers down on a modern Chinese city.

Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman has constructed a range of public animal-themed art installations, ranging from giant reclining bunnies to knitted octopus you can walkthrough.

His latest creature creation is a 15-meter-tall squirrel titled “Shiny Squirrel” — an enormous but docile figurine that looks down on a botanical garden in Chongqing, China.

The sculpture is covered with 16,500 orange and white metal discs. Standing on a cartoonish, oversized bushy tail, the friendly critter can be seen waving at the people below, holding up a peace sign as visitors explore the gardens.

Characteristic of Hofman’s work, the installation adds a touch of playfulness to a shared space that can bring a smile to the face of people of any age or background.

This Thursday, we’re saluting Florentijn Hofman’s “Shiny Squirrel.” To see more figures like these and see the building process in action, check out the artist’s Instagram.

Sources: Florentijn Hofman, This is Colossal