Cows in Warsaw
In the summer of 2005 on Warsaw streets it was possible to see... cows. But not a real ones, only made of plastic. Cow Parade is an artistic event which does not bring any special message, does not promote anything, its aim is only to introduce a little variety to public space and make at least a little bit happier the inhabitants of the cities it visits (and this last thing is necessary especially in Warsaw). Sponsors finance the purchase of the plastic cows, they have a kind of advertisement in this way. And various artists paint them, in very original and funny ways, sometimes they also add them some details or accessories. After the event is finished there is an auction, so anyone can buy a cow for himself. The money collected in this way is given to charity. So the cows not only make cities' inhabitants happier, but also help people.
In Warsaw it also looked like this - during three summer months the cows "grazed" on Warsaw streets, everyone could see them, touch them or take a photo of them. Some cows were really original. There was only a bit pity that actually there were not many of them - on the beginning it was said to be over 100 of them, later - 60, finally there were 58 cows. For comparison - in Prague there were over 200. In September the cows moved one by one to "PraCOWnia" ("COW Workshop") located in Reduta Shopping Centre, where they were being cleaned and repaired, because, unfortunately, many of them were damaged by vandals. In October an auction took place there, most of the cows were sold for about few thousands zlotys.
Warsaw is not the only city that was visited by the cows. "Cow Parade" takes place every year in at least few cities all around the world, first of all in USA, but the cows were also in many European cities, among others in United Kingdom (London, Manchester, Man Island), Ireland (Dublin), Czech Republic (Prague), Sweden (Stockholm), Latvia (Ventspils), Belgium (Brussels), Italy (Florence, Milan) or Spain (Barcelona, Vigo).
If anybody did not have a chance to see Warsaw cows in reality, he can see their photos in the gallery underneath (to see a photo in full size, it is necessary to click on its miniature).
No. |
The Cow's name (translated if possible) |
Location |
Photo |
1 |
Tylko Nielaciata ("Patchless Only") |
Jerozolimskie avenue, between Krucza and Rotunda |
 |
2 |
Autoportret - Malowac Kazdy Moze ("Self-portrait - Everyone Can Paint") |
Centrum, opposite Polonia Hotel |
 |
3 |
Bialy Jak Mleko ("As White As Milk") |
Chmielna (between Zgoda and Pasaz Wiecha) |
 |
4 |
Krowa Spod Znaku Byka ("Cow of Taurus sign of the Zodiac") |
ONZ Roundabout |
 |
5 |
Krowa Oplywowa ("Flowed-Round Cow") |
Marszalkowska / Sienkiewicza |
 |
6 |
Maslanka Wesola ("Happy Buttermilk") |
Jerozolimskie Avenue / Bracka |
 |
7 |
Pierwsza Krowa Ktorą Zobaczyli Adam i Ewa Po Wyjściu z Raju ("The first Cow Adam and Eve Saw After Leaving Paradise") |
Centrum, opposite Centrum Department Stores |
 |
8 |
Krowa Nefia |
Centrum next to Rotunda |
 |
9 |
Krowa Wyścigowa ("Racing Cow") |
Swietokrzyska, next to the Ministry of Finance |
 |
10 |
Pączek ("Donut") |
Swietokrzyska / Nowy Swiat |
 |
11 |
Krowa Policyjna ("Police Cow") |
Three Crosses Square (Plac Trzech Krzyzy) - eastern side |
 |
12 |
Prażanka ("Cow from Praga") |
Podwale, between Castle Square and Piekarska St. |
 |
13 |
Kolkrowka ("Circled Cow") |
Na Rozdrozu Square, next to Lazienki Park |
 |
14 |
Palacnica ("Palace Cow") |
Marszalkowska / Sienkiewicza |
 |
15 |
Dorożka ('Horse Cart' or rather 'Cow Cart' :)) |
Podwale, between Castle Square and Piekarska St. |
 |
16 |
Warszawianka ("Warsaw Cow") |
Centrum, opposite Polonia Hotel |
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17 |
Krovilla |
Bankowy Square |
 |
18 |
Sawa |
Marszalkowska, next to Centrum Department Stores |
 |
19 |
Krowa z Podtekstem "Cow With a Sub-text") |
Bankowy Square |
 |
20 |
Alfredka |
Three Crosses Square (Plac Trzech Krzyzy) - western side |
 |
21 |
Krowa Trojanska ("Trojan Cow") |
De Gaulle Roundabout / Smolna |
 |
22 |
Krowa Warszawska ("Warsaw Cow") |
Podwale, between Piekarska and Waski Dunaj |
 |
23 |
Krowa Niebianska ("Heaven Cow") |
Marszalkowska / Krolewska |
 |
24 |
Love Krowe |
Krakowskie Przedmiescie / Traugutta |
 |
25 |
Polska Gola ("Poland, Score a Goal") |
Three Crosses Square (Plac Trzech Krzyzy) - northern side |
 |
26 |
Oczy Ciornoje Krowa Polska |
Na Rozdrozu Square, next to Lazienki Park |
 |
27 |
Kru(v)ka Plazu(v)ka |
Na Rozdrozu Square, next to Lazienki Park |
 |
28 |
Krasna Polok |
Podwale, between Castle Square and Piekarska St. |
 |
29 |
Biedronka ("Ladybird") |
Hoover Square |
 |
30 |
Krowa Mary |
Bankowy Square |
 |
31 |
Łeba |
The Garden of Warsaw University Library (Dobra St.) |
 |
32 |
Krowa Milosna ("Love Cow") |
in front of Galeria Mokotow |
 |
33 |
CowStelacja ("CowStellation") |
Nowy Swiat / Ordynacka |
 |
34 |
Krowa Bojowa ("Combat Cow") |
Jerozolimskie Avenue, next to Central Station |
 |
35 |
Krowa Pokojowa ("Peaceful Cow") |
Centrum, opposite Polonia Hotel |
 |
36 |
Miejska Krowa ("City Cow") |
Centrum, opposite Centrum Department Stores |
 |
37 |
Muuuza |
ONZ Roundabout |
 |
38 |
mpTrojka |
Mysliwiecka St., in front of Polish Radio |
 |
39 |
Krowa Rasy Warszawskiej ("Warsaw-bred Cow") |
Centrum, next to Forum Hotel |
 |
40 |
Domuuwka |
Jerozolimskie Avenue, next to Smyk Department Store |
 |
41 |
Znikajacy Punkt ("Vanishing Point") |
Swietokrzyska, next to the Ministry of Finance |
 |
42 |
Siawa |
Bankowy Square |
 |
43 |
Zebra |
Podwale, between Piekarska and Waski Dunaj |
 |
44 |
Anielska ("Angel Cow") |
Wola Park Shopping Centre |
 |
45 |
Krowa Dziecieca ("Kids' Cow") |
Blue City Shopping Centre |
 |
46 |
Golub Cosmic Cow |
WFC Skyscraper, on the wall next to Emilii Plater St. |
 |
47 |
Giselle |
Chmielna, between Zgoda and Pasaz Wiecha |
 |
48 |
Leonardo |
Chmielna, between Zgoda and Pasaz Wiecha |
 |
49 |
Dan Krowa |
Hoover Square |
 |
50 |
Milka |
Jerozolimskie Avenue next to Smyk Department Store |
 |
51 |
Krowa Swiatowa ("International Cow") |
Nowy Swiat / Foksal |
 |
52 |
U-LOT-NA |
Town Walls, next to Castle Square |
 |
53 |
K-DRON |
in front of Marriott Hotel |
 |
54 |
Fangor |
Airport, opposite arrivals' hall |
 |
55 |
Human Touch |
Podwale, between Piekarska and Waski Dunaj |
 |
56 |
Pelna Kultura ("Full Culture") |
De Gaulle Roundabout, next to EMPiK |
 |
57 |
Krowa z Niespodzianką ("Cow With A Suprise") |
Jerozolimskie Avenue, next to Marriott Hotel |
 |
58 |
Krowa Anielska ("Angel Cow") |
Reduta Shopping Centre |
 |
59 |
A cow not painted yet |
 |
|
60 |
A real cow (to compare :) |
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(C) 2001-2012 Maciej Blazejewski