‘Moon Rabbit’ Fire Started When Attempt To Disassemble Went Wrong
The “moon rabbit” in Taiwan was set ablaze when workers attempted to disassemble it. It wasn’t a real bunny, but it was certainly really big.
The giant bunny was created by the man behind China’s now-banned giant rubber duck, Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman, and built to lie atop a military bunker. It was part of the Land Arts Festival, an annual event held southwest of Taipei in the northern county of Taoyuan. The bunker is one of several at the once secret Black Cat Squadron naval base from 1961 to 1974, and the bunny was one of many decorations laid against the bunkers and airport runway.
In addition to the fluffy-looking attraction, the festival also hosted creative markets, workshops, and performing artists.
This year’s Land Arts Festival was the first time in history that the base was open to the public.
The giant “moon rabbit” unfortunately suffered a similar fate to the giant rubber duck. The duck had been banned from China’s internet over its use in images of the protests at Tiananmen Square. Instead of the storm which took out the symbolic duck, this attraction was destroyed when a spark from a chainsaw caught on the wood holding it down, setting it aflame.
The giant rabbit exhibit was made with waterproof “paper,” Styrofoam, wood, and over 12,000 pieces of high-density polyethylene fiber material to make it appear “fluffy.” When it came time to remove the giant piece of art, chainsaws were used, sadly igniting the exhibit and leaving nothing but an ear, a paw, and some of its torso intact.
Chainsaw spark started fire that left giant stuffed bunny w/ nothing but an arm, ear and torso http://t.co/6PbtdBGFNP pic.twitter.com/hjn3tv0GqZ
— New York Post (@nypost) September 16, 2014
Chinese folk tales inspired the giant bunny, one being about the rabbit who serves Chang’e, a moon-based goddess. According to the tales, the bunny is said to be using a mortar and pestle as it pounds out an elixir of life for the goddess, with another variation having him pounding the ingredients for a rice cake.
Sadly, this moon rabbit won’t be pounding anything any more due to the use of a chainsaw setting it aflame.
[image via Vision Times]
