The project by Florentjin Hofman signals the beginning of the Totally Thames festival, a month-long program of events celebrating the arts, music and community festivals across the city.
"The inspiration was the children's book of my daughter, where the design of a hippo was drawn," Hofman said. "When I came to London I knew the restrictions of the 6-metre-high bridge, so I needed a stretched object, and together with this design of this hippo in the booklet of my daughter, I designed a 3D model out of it."
"HippopoThames", which is the artist's first UK commission, was towed upriver from its build site to its end position on London's South Bank.
"We took around six weeks to design it and to make technical drawings, and then the crew took I think six weeks to build it here in London," Hofman said.
It will be on display throughout September.
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