Tom Herck, mixed media, 2017-2025
‘Holy Cow’, exhibited in 2017 in an empty church in Kuttekoven, caused quite a stir. The crucified cow for human consumption stood in the middle of a large basin into which the cow was milking. The socially critical work condemned food waste, poignantly presented in a church. The inspiring artwork was provocative and, for the devoutly religious, pure blasphemy. Tempers flared and the crucified cow fell victim to night-time vandalism.
In 2025, Tom Herck reworked his installation into ‘Do not cross’. The crucified servant of meat and milk now rests on scorched earth – a symbol of destruction and desecration. The surrounding red and black border refers to a crime scene. The artwork marks the boundary of moral and ecological transgression. Four markings, as in forensic investigation, record the former vandalism. The controversial work confronts the viewer with their moral compass and makes them think about nature and ethics. Christ was crucified as a sacrifice; this cow insinuates, among other things, the current CO2 conflict between farmers and European politicians. Art calls for dialogue.
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