Festivals | By: Londonist

HippopoThames Arrives At Nine Elms: Podcast And Photos

The artist, Hofman, enjoying a beer as the hippo makes its way downstream - photo: Andy Thornley
The artist, Hofman, enjoying a beer as the hippo makes its way downstream - photo: Andy Thornley
Hippopo passes the O2 - photo: Andy Thornley
Hippopo passes the O2 - photo: Andy Thornley
Hippopo not tall enough to open Tower Bridge - photo: Andy Thornley
Hippopo not tall enough to open Tower Bridge - photo: Andy Thornley
Pootling past the Tower of London - photo: Andy Thornley
Pootling past the Tower of London - photo: Andy Thornley
... under Jubilee Bridge - photo: Andy Thornley
... under Jubilee Bridge - photo: Andy Thornley
By the Eye - photo: Andy Thornley
By the Eye - photo: Andy Thornley
Trundling past the Palace of Westminster - photo: Andy Thornley
Trundling past the Palace of Westminster - photo: Andy Thornley
Arrival at Nine Elms - photo: Andy Thornley
Arrival at Nine Elms - photo: Andy Thornley
Hippopo under construction - photo N Quentin Woolf
Hippopo under construction - photo N Quentin Woolf

Yesterday a giant hippo was floated down the Thames from Greenwich Peninsula to Nine Elms to mark the start of a month of riverine activities for Totally Thames. The jolly artwork, HippopoThames by Florentijn Hofman can be seen at Riverside Gardens, Nine Elms Lane, London SW8 2DU until 30 September.

While Hippopo was under construction, our podcaster N Quentin Woolf met Hofman to discuss the building and launching of the Totally Thames commission. They also chat about Hofman's other animal sculptures: an aardvark, supine monkey and a rubber duck, which did not explode (despite what the press might think). They also ruminate on ways of seeing and communicating and talk about the masculine iron-workers who helped with the sculpture. Listen now to the latest edition of Londonist Out Loud below.

[powerpress url="http://s3.amazonaws.com/londonist-podcast/Londonist_Out_Loud_2nd_September_2014.mp3"]

Podcast presented and produced by N Quentin Woolf. Show notes by Stu Black. Photography by Andy Thornley.

Londonist is proud media partner to Totally Thames. Come to one of our events: Quiz on a Boat, Talks on HMS President.