The iconic bronze sculpture in central Sunshine, Man Lifting Cow, has been painted for the first time since its installation — bringing its artist, John Kelly’s original vision for the local landmark to life.
Boasting fresh black and white hues, the recent revamp aligns the piece with Mr Kelly’s other cow artworks, which have starred in London, on the Champs Elysee in Paris, and in Melbourne’s Docklands, where Cow up a Tree is a popular selfie spot.
Mr Kelly emigrated from Ireland to Australia with his family, and grew up in Sunshine before going on to international artistic acclaim.
Mayor Thuy Dang said painting the sculpture will bring a renewed appreciation for the formidable piece and the artist himself.
“Man Lifting Cow has delighted both locals and visitors and not only reflects local history but is the work of John Kelly, who grew up in Sunshine,” she said.
“Painting the sculpture will give this much-loved public artwork a new lease of life, to be enjoyed for many.”
The Sunshine sculpture honours the west’s agricultural past and Mr Kelly’s father, Ben, who worked in Mountain View Quarries on the Maribyrnong River.
The sculptural form of the Man Lifting Cow, alludes to the physicality of hard work and labour which is a subtle reference to the industrial history of Sunshine.
Sunshine’s Fundere Fine Art Foundry fabricated the artwork in 2016 and carried out the recent restoration.
