Bicycles have made a grand comeback in the last decade as a practical, low cost and planet friendly solution to personal mobility over short distances. Though this has made a huge positive impact on the environment and even on the fitness level of people around the world, it has also unfortunately, contributed immensely to the world’s landfills and junk yards, where millions of discarded bicycles end up and are left to rust with no hope of being reused or recycled. Thankfully, there are a few artists around the globe, who have made it a point to use some of these dumped bicycles to create works of art.
Cyclisk
California sculptors Ilana Spector and Mark Grieve are the brains behind this 65 feet tall obelisk, fashioned from one tricycle and 340 bicycles. Located in what can be called the “car dealership district” in the city of Santa Rosa, this sculpture dubbed the Cyclisk, was built with funds from Nissan, which donated generously towards the $37,000 building cost. The sculpture aims to raise awareness about the necessity of recycling and green transportation.
Tree cycling
This bespoke Christmas tree made out of 35 recycled bike wheels stands proud in Bermondsey Square, London and looks to promote eco friendly modes of transportation in the city. Created by Sarah Wigglesworth Architects, the sculpture uses wheels loaned by UK-based charity organization, Re~Cycle, which provides sustainable and cost efficient transport to underprivileged people in Africa.
Bike Racks as public art
Alabama folk artist Butch Anthony has taken his fancy for bicycle art to a whole new level of functionality. His art highlights how trash can be put to good use without spending a heap on repurposing it. Installed at Rosslyn’s Gateway Park, the funky bike racks use wheels from discarded bikes to give an artistic touch to the parking spaces.
Bike Bike
Made out of 200 recycled bicycles, this 12 meter high sculpture, in the shape of a penny farthing, is actually a bike lover’s wildest dream come true. Named the Bike Bike, the installation was created by artist Alasdair Nicol for the ninth edition of the Art & About Festival held in Sydney. Though the penny farthing isn’t as popular today as it was in the 1870s, the installation sure highlights the glorious history of the world’s first truly green and humane individual transport.
Forever, Bicycle
Nothing reflects the philosophy of ‘art for art’s sake’ better than the ‘Forever, Bicycles’ installation created by sculptor Ai Weiwei. Created using 42 bicycles, the sculpture depicts an enclosed space carved from recycled bicycles.
Christmas Tree made from 100 recycled bikes
This 23 foot tall tree sculptural installation called ‘Tree Cycle’ combines together the festive spirit of the Christmas tree and benefits of recycling. Made from 100 recycled bicycles, the ‘tree’ comes with multi coloured tires that are made to look like holiday lights. All the bikes used in the piece were donated by a local recycling company.
Barcroft Park’s bike rack
They say one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Artist Butch Anthony from Alabama certainly knows how to turn trash into treasured pieces of public art. The self professed bicycle art fanatic has created several public installations using bicycle parts, and, this bike counter made with license plates, discarded bike wheels, street signs and recycled metals sits pretty in Arlington, Virginia’s Barcroft Park. it is a reminder of how trash can be repurposed into beautiful and functional public art installations.
1200 bicycles create Cavern at Taipei Art Museum
Artist Ai Weiwei had created this stunning sculpture for his exhibit called ‘Ai Weiwei, Absent’. It highlights the Communist nation’s resistance to offer personal identity to its people. The moving abstract shape is fashioned out of a thousand suspended bicycles and the massive structure was displayed at the Fine Arts Museum inTaipei, right up to January this year.
Bicycle Bedecked Façade
Cast strapped stores turn to all kinds of gimmicks to promote their business, but this awe inspiring façade with what seems like a gazillion bikes glued onto it, is as gimmicky as it gets. Located in the German city, Altlandsberg, a bike superstore resorted to supergluing a bunch of old bikes to its façade in a bid to promote business.
Bike/Bike Lock sculpture
Nobody likes to have their bikes stolen, but this bike lock sculpture made by a Vancouver artist may be pushing the limits of sanity just a tad. Dubbed the ultra mobile bicycle, the bicycle/bike lock sculpture highlights the pesky problem of bike theft and how apathetic authorities can be towards the crime.
