October 10, 2024, Dujiangyan City, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China: A 26-meter-long sculpture of the world's heaviest giant Panda, weighs 130 tons, lies on the ground and holds a selfie stick with its feet up and taking a selfie. 'Selfie Panda' sculpture by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman in the city of Dujiangyan in southwest China's Sichuan Province, and has become the new mecca for selfie and panda lovers alike. The sculpture is 26.5m by 11m by 12m in dimension, featuring a selfie-taking giant panda lying on its back. Weighing 130 tons, the 26-meter-long sculpture is the world's heaviest giant panda, lying on the ground and holding a selfie stick with its feet up and taking a selfie. The work takes shape with the help of three million lacquer-painted stainless steel rods. 'Selfie Panda' is inspired by a real giant panda that went astray in downtown Dujiangyan in 2005. It soon became a popular photogenic spot following its public debut. Florentijn Hofman’s sculptures of monumental friendly animals are internationally famous, and his latest collaboration with UAP (Urban Art Projects). The work is a direct reference to the ongoing conservation efforts to protect the species by creating a clever social commentary, offering large scale community engagement and attracting global attention. Over 3 million strands of painted wire were screwed into the perforated aluminum body of the sculpture to create a tactile and weatherproof fur coat. The selfie stick showcases a large programmed LED screen with a camera embedded into it, emulating a real phone. Visitors are encouraged to take selfies via a custom developed mobile application. (Credit Image: © Cfoto/DDP via ZUMA Press)
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