'Little Giants' - Borgerhout

In Borgerhout—where I live and work—there are four giants: the Reuzekes (Antwerp dialect for 'little giants,' because, well, they aren't really big). Folkloric figures who, with their round shapes and jaws, have been bringing together large crowds for a very long time whenever they come out, across all cultures. A wonderful party, every September.

In that same Borgerhout, there had also been a 'cultural foundation' for a very long time, one dating back to when animals still spoke. Not really of this era anymore, so it wisely disbanded itself. As a farewell, they were looking for a fitting gift for the presiding committee. They asked me, as a Borgerhout artist, for that. And I created an automaton inspired by the Reuzekes: their typical three-pointed hat and, underneath, their cheerful little mouth. The latter can keep talking if you turn it...