Marseille and Cow
Until 11 October 2007
The idea was first dreamed up by a Swiss artist, Pascal Knapp, with the idea of promoting contemporary art and making it accessible to everyone. In this, he must have succeeded beyond his wildest dreams, because the first cow parade at Zurich in 1998 has been followed by similar events in Copenhagen, Istanbul, London, Milan (which holds the record so far of 100 cows), New York, Paris and Tokyo.
The latest venue, Marseille, temporarily held its head in shame after the first report of a fibre cow being stolen. ‘Is nothing beyond pillaging?’, demanded one local radio station. Perhaps the culprits had their conscience pricked, for a few days later the cow, none the worst for its experience, was found grazing among the rubbish of a restaurant in the Old Port.