Everything about the internet's adoration for Moo Deng, a baby pygmy hippo residing in a Thai zoo, embodies the spirit of 2024. This sassy "it girl" skyrocketed to fame on TikTok, becoming an overnight viral sensation. Her daily antics—mostly consisting of sleeping, being cuddled, bathed, and occasionally nibbling on a zookeeper's knee—are now being live-streamed 24/7 around the world.

But is Moo Deng-mania sustainable? Khao Kheow Open Zoo is reportedly struggling to cope with the influx of visitors, which surged from 3,000 to 10,000 over just one weekend. Super fans, unable to meet the semi-aquatic starlet in person, have started mimicking her look in a new Gen Z trend dubbed “Moo Deng makeup.”

Is the fascination with this plump, hairless hippo truly a recent phenomenon? While artists like Dürer captured rhinos and Max Ernst gave a surreal twist to elephants, the humble hippo has also inspired creativity throughout history. The ancient Greeks referred to it as the “river horse,” and artists have long been captivated by this unusual and often ferocious mammal.

Here’s a look back at some of the most iconic hippos in art history:

1. Ancient Egypt

Once common along the Nile, hippos are now extinct in Egypt. Their formidable teeth made them a menace to fishermen, symbolizing chaos and destruction. Small ceramic figurines, often placed in tombs, depicted hippos and were intentionally damaged to protect the deceased from harm during their afterlife journey.

2. Peter Paul Rubens

Rubens vividly illustrated the threat posed by hippos in his 1616 painting, "The Hippopotamus and Crocodile Hunt". In this exoticized scene, three men on Arabian horses confront a fierce hippo on the Nile's banks. Rubens likely based his depiction on taxidermied specimens he encountered in Italy, capturing the species' fierce tenacity.

3. Les Lalanne

In more recent decades, the hippo has continued to inspire artists. The French duo François-Xavier and Claude Lalanne created a whimsical bronze sculpture that humorously showcases the hippo's voluptuous form, complete with a fully stocked bar inside.

4. Jeff Koons

Koons's Easyfun mirror “hippo” explores abstraction while retaining the animal's recognizable silhouette. Viewers are treated to a flattering reflection, enhancing the playful nature of the piece.

Are hippos still a popular subject for art in the 2020s? If NFT artist Beeple's recent work is any indication, the answer is yes! He recently shared his interpretation of Moo Deng on social media, featuring her in a playful showdown with Pesto the penguin, another internet favorite.

As artists continue to draw inspiration from the pygmy hippo, they may need to tread carefully. Khao Kheow Open Zoo's director, Narongwit Chodchoi, has announced plans to patent and trademark Moo Deng's image. Will he succeed in securing the rights, or will the humble hippo remain an eternal muse for creative expression?

Sayart / Amia Nguyen, amyngwyen13@gmail.com