Homunculus Loxodontus all the rage in Russia

[Palinurus]

Source: http://nltimes.nl/2017/02/06/dutch-hospitals-monster-sculpture-surprise-hit-russia

Dutch hospital’s monster sculpture a surprise hit in Russia

By Janene Pieters on February 6, 2017 - 17:05

Margriet van Breevoort's 'Homunculus Loxodontus' at LUMC. Photo: Margriet van Breevoort

An Amsterdam artist's sculpture for the academic hospital in Leiden has become an internet sensation in Russia. It seems that the monster statue - a gray blob with the head of a sea elephant waiting for a seat with its hands patiently folded - perfectly embodies the Russian 'waiting' culture, a leftover from the communist era during which almost all goods had to be waited for, Het Parool reports (in Dutch; with short video (1.23 min.) and several photographs).

Amsterdam artist Margriet van Breevoort (26) is responsible for the statue at LUMC hospital in Leiden. "I wanted to make something that would capture the atmosphere of the medical center. This creature is waiting and hoping, and hope in a medical center is to me something very important", she said to Het Parool. She named the statue 'Homunculus Loxodontus'.

A Russian employee at the hospital found the waiting part of the statue just as important. She posted a photo of the monster on a Russian version of Reddit and it exploded. The monster was quickly named "Zhdun", a corruption of the Russian word "zhdu" which means "I'll wait", and is now in numerous Russian memes.

Van Breevoort calls the attention "overwhelming, but very nice". "I'm now getting all kinds of questions and even orders from Russia."

 

[Glenn]

Hmmm, the part about a symbol of the Russian waiting culture I can get. But how this represents, hope, in a medical center, not getting it.

 

[Palinurus]

Yes, I agree. The hope-part of the explanation seems far-fetched to me as well. We'll just have to take her word for it, I suppose. :/

 

[loreta]

I like it. Hospitals need a lot more of funny things, and this one is very funny. For me it represents patience. Hope? I don't know. But patience, when you go to an hospital is very important or you can loose your nerves. More statues of this kind and more colors need hospitals!