Holy cow! Bovine figure gets arty edge
The bovine figure holds a special place in Indian faith and culture. And many artists and sculptors have given varied aesthetic interpretations to the form of the cow. CowParade is a public art event and its collection is based on a unique art exhibit that has been held in cities across the globe since 2000.
The exhibition consists of life-sized fiberglass cows painted and decorated by professional and amateur artists. A limited edition of 53 figurines, made up of Polyresin is available in select Archies and Hallmark stores in New Delhi. The buyable figurines come in three sizes — extra large, large and medium. The price ranges from `1,999 to `8,999.
While the cow is much glorified and revered in the Indian culture, many feel the animal is very poorly treated in real life. “Indians glorify the cow as Lord Krishna’s vaahan and worship the animal as gau mata. But do we actually care for the animal? Cows sitting on heaps of garbage eating harmful materials like polythene, or sitting in the middle of the road with a broken leg are common sights,” says Sidharth, an artist.
In 2010, Sidharth’s solo show, The Decorated Cow, had 60 sculptures and 45 paintings based on the traditional relationship of humans with the cow. “I wanted to portray the dichotomy that exists in our society when it comes to our sacred animal,” he adds.
Post new comment