A moooving art project at The Show

Well known street artist Wongi Wilson is turning his talents to things rural.

Well-known street artist Wongi Wilson is turning his talents to things rural. He’s among a group of local artists who’ve been busy painting seven fibreglass bovine beauties at the NZ Agricultural Show in Christchurch this week (November 9-11) for the new Cows in the Park initiative.

The life-sized 3D works of art are being auctioned to raise funds for a rural wellness programme, Surfing for Farmers. One of the cows will be auctioned at The Show on Friday (November 11).

The cows can be found grazing throughout the Park on the Hazlett discovery trail designed with kids in mind. Tracy Ahern, The Show’s general manager, was inspired after discovering a similar idea in Greater Shepparton, a rural town 180km out of Melbourne.

“I fell in love with the idea of increasing dairy profile, while also raising the profile of public art. It’s another way of bringing some fun, colour and vibrancy to The Show.

”I’m hoping visitors to The Show will see all that we have to offer, celebrate rural art and explore it as a pathway to youth careers.”

Weighing in at 17kg each, the cows were tailormade in Hamilton and sent to Christchurch ready to be transformed by artists selected for their diverse style. Aside from Wilson, the other artists are Anna Treffer, Marshall Wang, Chris Solly, Haruko Furukawa, Dean Johnstone and Anne McDonald who drew the group together.

Surfing for farmers is a wellness programme started by farmers, for farmers. Now in 22 locations throughout New Zealand, it aims to bring farmers together, off-farm and into the surf to enhance well-being.