Cow Parade

CowParade is the largest and most successful public art event in the world. Originating in 1998 from an idea of Swiss sculptor Pascal Knapp, it soon became a worldwide event and an occasion for important charity fundraising.  CowParade events have been staged in over 50 cities worldwide since 1999 including Chicago (1999), New York City (2000), London (2002), Tokyo (2003), and Brussels (2003). Dublin (2003), Prague (2004), and Stockholm (2004), Mexico City (2005), Sao Paulo (2005), Buenos Aires (2006), Boston (2006) Paris (2006), Milan and Istanbul (2007).

In 2007 we had the pleasure of participating in the edition held in Milan during the Salone del Mobile and intended to fund the projects of the non-profit Champions for Children Foundation. And children were our first inspiration for our cow, which we decided to treat as an outsized toy. We designed and made a blister pack that could contain the life-size statue of the cow, left white but equipped with two cans of colored paint so it could be ideally customized. The toy theme caught our imagination and we decided to get some toy cows, cans of colored paint and have blisters made equal to the giant one to package our cows. We worked day and night to hand assemble about a hundred sets, but it was worth it. This unique project allowed us to play freely with our imagination and do good, so it will remain in our hearts and memories forever.