ABSTRACT
Eastern design theory has long given equal value to “what is” and “what is not” – to both form and space – in the pursuit of balance and harmony. The bicycle, however, is a linear design that calls attention to the many spaces that fill it. Two shapes dominate bicycle design: the circle and triangle. Circles invite movement (wheels, cogs) and triangles brace for strength (spokes, frame). Chinese artist and social activist Ai Weiwei is one of the most powerful voices in the art world today. Ai Weiwei grew up in the poverty of a labor camp under Mao’s regime where bicycles were rare and much sought after. At that time, the “Forever” company made some of the best bicycles in China. By the 1970s, bicycles had become ubiquitous in China – everyone had one. The rhythms of the single cyclist have multiplied into an enormous orchestration, arching through the air.
