Bicycle wheels and diamonds...

It felt as though half of Glasgow was in The Netherlands at Dekmantal last week.

I can't believe that I've still not made it over to that yet. If I manage to get my arse in gear (sorry I couldn't resist that) next year, I will be sure to keep my eyes peeled for The Bicycloud

 The Bicycloud is a new public art installation by artist Frank Tjepkema aka Tjep. Commissioned by the city of Amsterdam, this sculptural work, which stretches over 100 meters, is a reference and blending of two well known Amsterdam icons: bicycles and diamonds.

The project has sprung up beside two recently opened metro entrances along the Rokin boulevard as part of the stylish city refurbishment project called: ‘Rode Loper’.

Tjep discovered that bicycle wheels and diamonds are, graphically speaking, beautifully related. “From there it became a game of parametric programming to achieve a highly detailed sculptural fence that would blend visually with the bicycles.” says Frank Tjepkema

As any true aesthete knows, if you have a big nose, dont try to hide it, enhance it! Likewise, here: instead of hiding the metal bicycle mass, the fence creates an elegant amalgam with what is often considered as visual noise caused by to many parked bicycles.

Bicycloud has everything to turn this negative into a positive, thus the installation embraces the chaos of lines and circles by adding a poetical visual layer of circles and lines. An inverted urban bicycle camouflage, so to speak...

“Hopefully, the structure will become a symbol celebrating bicycles and their wonderful advantages in terms of efficiency and ecology.” – Frank Tjepkema

Facts about the Rokin Bicycle Fence project:
• 23 tons of stainless steel processed
• 25 tons of sand for the water jet cutting process
• 1000 hours of cutting in 193 1 cm thick plates (3,5 * 1 meter)
• 600 rods in different sizes and diameters have been welded by hand to keep the elements together
• electrolytic polishing finish to give it it’ silver shine.

Much as I'm sure to admire it, I'm still not saying that it will actually encourage me to get my lazy bottom onto a bike...

Queen Marie