Woof! Jeff Koons’s Puppy at the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao gets its own flowery face mask

Face masks are now a way of life in the Covid era—and works of art are no exception. Jeff Koons’s Puppy sculpture at the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is a selfie hot spot but in these turbulent times, museum officials thought the blooming bow-wow should also sport a mask. Koons has embraced the idea, saying in a statement: “What an honour it is to be able to have Puppy communicate the importance of wearing a mask during this time of the Covid-19 pandemic. A Bilbao resident sent me a letter asking if Puppy could wear a mask which I thought was a wonderful idea. I was thrilled that the museum agreed as now Puppy, adorned with a mask made of white and blue flowers, can communicate safety and well-being to the citizens of Bilbao and the world.” A statement explains that ever since it was installed in 1997, the 12.4-metre-tall sculpture of a West Highland Terrier has its flower mantle changed every year in spring and fall in order to adapt to the new season. Please note though—the outline of the doggie mask is not clearly visible yet, as the newly repotted plants will need a few weeks to grow and bloom.