Bunny Paddle Powers Latest Liu Dao Work

Did you know the humble white rabbit, long time assistant to magicians over the centuries, has a surprising and little known talent of its own? We at Liu Dao decided that as part of our recent animal themed exhibition we would give the bunny centre-stage and break this fact to the world: rabbits can swim! This is neither a recent Darwinian progression in the evolutionary path of the bunny, nor the exceptional skill of a mutant born out of Shanghai’s toxic, industrial badlands, but rather (as we researched carefully) an innate and instinctive ability of all the species.

“Why no! swimming rabbits? as likely as flying pigs!..” we hear you cry. The same cries of disbelief were hurled at Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States, in 1979 when he tried to explain to the sceptics the trauma of his relaxing, solo, fishing expedition turning into a nightmare as he was victim of a rabbit attack on the river! But we digress..

First step in capturing the bunny paddle on film for our latest artwork was to select the right white rabbit. We opted for an average, fluffy, domestic breed from the local pet emporium and donned our lab coats (no really, we already had absolute confidence the rabbit would prove its paddling power). Once the cameras were set, lighting of the tank corrected and water specially warmed to keep our stunt hare happy, it was time for the dive. Check out these shots as we relive the moments of nail-biting anticipation, amazement and then awe-inspired celebration.

For the curious kitties, the artwork is still in progress, so we could point you in the meanwhile to a 2011 artwork that also featured a paddling Leporidae:

Watch the video here: “Run Rabbit Run” 

And no, Rah-Bit is no longer on display at island6. He has found a happy new home with ex-islander Marky Mark, and now resides in a lovely 26th-floor apartment, feasting on his own body weight in fresh carrot.

Rah-Bit, with post-swim glow