The large-scale urban sculpture “Waking Dreams” (Nomoda sapņi) is located on the Ostas Street Promenade in Ventspils, near the intersection with Pils Street. This impressive environmental landmark measures 4 meters in height and 7 meters in length.
The sculpture carries a rich history. From 2005 until 2025, it was widely known as the “Traveler Cow” (Govs ceļotāja), originally designed by artist Pauls Spridzāns to resemble an old, worn-out suitcase covered with travel stickers from around the globe. In the summer of 2025, due to visual and structural deterioration, the local municipality commissioned well-known Latvian artist Elita Patmalniece to completely revitalize the object. She transformed the sculpture with a remarkably bright, expressive, and avant-garde coat of paint, renaming it to reflect its new concept.
The current multi-colored design serves as a modern piece of public contemporary art, representing creative metamorphosis and a wakeful interpretation of subconscious dreams. It remains one of the most iconic structures left from the legacy of the international CowParade art and philanthropy project in Ventspils.