Taken on the cusp of the Spanish Civil War in 1936, violence seeped into nearly every facet of Spanish life–even into the minds of children. Featured above, several children in Barcelona don’t spend their free time making daisy chains or playing hide and go seek; rather, they imitate firing squads.

Source: Gessato

In the past, public art was confined to commemorative pieces, murals, or architectural structures. These days, the umbrella of public art encompasses a variety of art forms including land art, graffiti, political art, architecture, and more. One contemporary artist, Florentijn Hofman, creates striking, bold, and joyful pieces that force the average passerby to stop and take notice.

Florentijn Hofman is a Dutch conceptual artist known for his impressively large sculptures often inspired by ordinary objects. In 2007, Hofman created a 26 meter tall rubber duck called “Spreading Joy Around the World.” The floating duck has been to 12 cities so far, and according to the artist, will bring happiness to people worldwide by reminding them of their childhood. Currently, the gigantic rubber duck is in Hong Kong, where it will remain until June 2013.

Source: The Telegraph

Source: Twisted Sifter

“Spreading Joy Around the World” is not Hofman’s only piece that demands attention. In 2011, he created a huge yellow rabbit lying on its back in the middle of Örebro, Sweden. The bunny, called “Big Yellow Rabbit,” is made from thousands of Swedish shingles and other Swedish materials. This piece is yet another incredible example of how Hofman’s artwork so easily colors previously bland landscapes.

Source: Inhabitat

Source: Wikimedia Commons

In 2004, Hofman drew attention to a clump of buildings scheduled for demolition by painting the entire structure in bright blue. He has created dozens of other sculptures and artwork over the years, yet each have a cartoon-like, light quality in common. Here’s a video of him creating a giant sculpture of a bear holding a pillow:

Source: Flickr

Source: Bettery Magazine

While Hofman’s style of artwork is decidedly unique, there are other contemporary artists whose work seems to draw from some of the same influences. Dutch artist Henk Hofstra paints bright, eye-catching art that stands out in the same way as Hofman’s.

Source: Wooster Collective

Source: Zeutch

Source: Wooster Collective