Grand Boucle at London

By Deepti Khanna

Photography: Courtesy Kemistry Gallery; mother-drucker.com & chipsnchampagne.com

 

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This one is for bicycle lovers…Grand Boucle, an upcoming exhibition at Kemistry Gallery, London, takes a closer look at how the design of racing bicycles has returned to what was popular several years ago.

Most things are ‘cyclic’ in nature. From changing trends in fashion, interiors and music, it has been observed that whatever once was, makes a comeback again. Grand Boucle starting May 9 is a treat for bike lovers as it traces the evolution of racing bicycles from 1903 to 2009; with strong indications of going back to the basics.

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Brainchild of graphic designer Christoph Reichert and printer Dolly Demoratti, the touring exhibition “aims at taking participants and the audience through a visual narrative of vintage and contemporary bike design.” At the exhibition, a selection of new and vintage bicycles, custom-built and modified saddles and a magazine of the same name, which documents the critical appreciation of their evolution, will be on display.

The exhibition intrigues because it traces the development of bikes in every decade. Since 1903, bikes first metamorphosed from simple fixed-gear or free-wheel bicycles to highly sensitive speedy machines. While vintage bikes were truly basic, and held a distinctive charisma with their clean, minimalistic design and functioning; these qualities are grossly missing in the latest gear bicycles. With this as the primary reason why bike lovers in the last couple of years have reverted to simple steel frame bikes without gears, self-checking and servicing one’s bike has further propagated this trend. Added to this, is the fact that these bicycles are a lot more environment-friendly.

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Also on display at Grand Boucle will be silkscreen printed testimonials to bicycle related design and photography, such as vintage head-badge posters and postcards along with large-scale photographic prints. The merchandise will also be available to passionate bikers through online stores.   

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Grand Boucle concludes on June 1.