Max

During the Year of the Farm 2003, Mothership invited artist Florentijn Hofman to make a bold statement about the disappearance of monumental farmhouses in the Netherlands. The result was Max — a gigantic red guard dog measuring 12 meters high, 25 meters long, and 8 meters wide, constructed from potato crates, ropes, and agricultural plastic.

Max did not only guard a farmhouse in Leens (Groningen), but also symbolized the protection of our agricultural heritage. The work was inspired by Hofman’s childhood memory of a shepherd dog named Max. With its impressive size and striking color, Max became an unmistakable landmark and a public favorite. The project was curated, coordinated, and produced by Mothership.