Marseille and Cow

 

 

  

Marseille and Cow is an exhibition of 65 decorated fibre cows held in the old quarter of the city, where anyone can ‘adopt’ a cow for 7,500 Euros and have it decorated by the artist of their choice, with designs that no doubt, judging by past such events, will range from the bizarre to the brilliant.

 

 

 

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.