Giant bubblegum sculpture brings fun and whimsy to a Netherlands street

For some people, bubblegum may be one of the most useless snacks or foods. It doesn’t offer much in terms of nutrition, and unlike other treats, you’re not meant to swallow it. Sure, it brings some temporary pleasure if it’s a flavor you like, evoking nostalgia or a brief burst of sweetness—but for many, it seems to serve no real purpose. After all, you chew it, enjoy the taste for a little while, maybe blow a few bubbles, and then spit it out. Some studies have pointed to minor oral health benefits, like improved focus or reduced stress, and it can help freshen breath or reduce snacking. But at the end of the day, it’s a fleeting experience that gets discarded and an odd ritual of indulgence with no lasting substance.

Dutch street artist Frankey has had a fascination with bubblegum even though he says he thinks it’s weird and pointless. But he says maybe that’s the point of it, that it’s just useless but brings “wonder, play, fun”. He previously had an exhibit called Gumballin’ that showcased the fun side of gumballs. To officially start the second edition, he has unveiled a huge bubblegum sculpture called Hubbabubbabuilding in the Netherlands that’s part of Street Art Zandovart 2025.

Designer: Frankey

Continuing his funny and whimsical signature style called “positive interventions”, the Hubbabubbabuilding is a whimsical and surreal public art installation that transforms an otherwise ordinary house into a playful scene straight from a cartoon. The facade features huge pink bubblegum-like spheres that are bursting through the walls and windows. It’s as if someone is blowing a huge piece that is going out of control.

At the top of a ladder next to the roof, a child-like character (maybe Frankey himself actually) is blowing through the chimney whimsically. Through a large window, you can see a similar figure with curly hair and a red knit hat standing inside the house, so you kind of can conclude where the bubbles are coming from. Anyone passing through the house will probably pause and take a look since the pink bubblegums will really catch your attention, not to mention the huge man blowing through the chimney.

Hubbabubbabuilding playfully blurs the lines between architecture and sculpture, injecting humor into the built environment. It invites viewers to pause, smile, and see their surroundings through a lens of childlike imagination. It would be interesting to see what the rest of his Gumballin’ 2 exhibit will be as it will reportedly be focusing deeper into cultural and emotional resonances.