captain boomer brings bucolic painting to life with real cows in central london

blurring the boundaries between art and reality, flemish artist collective captain boomer has introduced ‘pasture with cows’, a giant real-life painting featuring humans and cows set within the grounds of the old royal naval college in london. the bucolic scene unfolds inside a large gilt picture frame which invites viewers to take a seat and enjoy the view of cows grazing against the backdrop of wren’s riverside.

all images courtesy of captain boomer

the project by captain boomer was one of the highlights of the greenwich+docklands international festival, london’s leading festival of outdoor theatre and performing arts, which took place during 21 june – 6 july of 2019. the creators aimed to create a social, rural place in the middle of the city, where everybody can get together and enjoy the art piece. the image has a soothing, calming effect and cows are peaceful and majestic animals to watch.

the work investigates humans’ relationship with animals, attempting to refer to the livestock industry, in particular. the classical bucolic tableau allows visitors to linger safely in aesthetic bliss. however, the painting comes into a reality, challenging people to take a stand. in addition, the work has a meta-edge to it, exploring ways that art can renew itself.

‘representation is exhausted‘ captain boomer explains. ‘how can you find a new and compelling way of portraying this classical image? do we need to get rid of representation to get to realism? is the new form to be found in a different relation between fiction and reality, between representation and the real thing?’ these are the kinds of conversations that took place on the gilded benches. while the children caressed the cows, the adults questioned their own frame of mind.

project info:

name: pasture with cows

artist: captain boomer