Life-size sculpture of a bull made from flattened cans of corned beef
Two motorized bulls often engage in multimedia performance art called the Challenge
There are small concealed wheels at the feet for ease of movement
Context
Micheal Tuffery was born in New Zealand of Samoan, Cook Islands, and Tahitian descent
The artist is interested in exploring aspects of his Polynesian heritage in a modern context
Canned corned beef is a favorite food in Polynesia; exported from New Zealand
Canned meat(pisupo, a Samoan language variant of “pea soup,” the first canned food in the Pacific) is given as a gift on special occasions in Polynesia
However, canned meat has been a major contributor to Polynesian obesity
The introduction of canned meat of irony in that the cow is made of hundreds of opened cabs if cow meat
The theme of recycling is emphasized by the reuse of these cans.
