The Gallery’s major summer exhibition ‘The Motorcycle: Design, Art, Desire’ featured 100 examples of the popular machine spanning more than a century of excellence and eccentricity, with a glimpse into the future with current technological innovations.

An exhibition is most compelling when it provokes greater insight into ourselves, our history and our identity, both individually and collectively. So what has prompted QAGOMA to present an exhibition on the history and future of the motorcycle? Will an audience that finds inspiration in art be equally moved by an exhibition of machinery? Can motorcycles transcend their functional purpose to take us on an emotional or spiritual journey?

‘The Motorcycle’ exhibition was in Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) from 28 November 2020 until 26 April 2021.

Kim Krebs riding at the 2010
BUB Motorcycle Speed Trials, Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah /
Photograph: LC Grubb (ScooterShoots)

Kim Krebs riding at the 2010
BUB Motorcycle Speed Trials, Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah /
Photograph: LC Grubb (ScooterShoots) / View full image

‘The Motorcycle: Design, Art, Desire’, Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA), Brisbane / Photograph: Natasha Harth © QAGOMA

‘The Motorcycle: Design, Art, Desire’, Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA), Brisbane / Photograph: Natasha Harth © QAGOMA / View full image

RELATED: Suzuki Hayabusa: The world’s fastest production sportbike

The idea has appealed to gallery audiences before: in 1998, the Solomon R Guggenheim Museum in New York presented ‘The Art of the Motorcycle’ to mixed critical response, but, notably, at that time it was also the most popular and well-attended exhibition in the museum’s history, impressing visitors with a form of design that embodies beauty, danger, style, power and freedom. Design-based exhibitions, including those of fashion and architecture, are now part of an accepted ‘blockbuster’ typology, so it’s not a question of ‘why’ so much as ‘why now?’ What new ground will this exhibition claim? The Guggenheim show appeared in the final moments of the twentieth century, neatly and chronologically summarising 100 years of the development of the motorcycle; QAGOMA’s exhibition uses this same history to speak to the future.

DELVE DEEPER: Browse the LIST OF MOTORCYCLES

RELATED: Read more about the bikes in ‘THE MOTORCYCLE’ exhibition

A drawing from Louis-Guillaume Perreaux’s 1871 patent

A drawing from Louis-Guillaume Perreaux’s 1871 patent / View full image

Perreaux Steam Velocipede 1871 / Collection: Department of Hauts-de-Seine / Museum of the Departmental Domain of Sceaux / Photograph: Olivier Ravoire

Perreaux Steam Velocipede 1871 / Collection: Department of Hauts-de-Seine / Museum of the Departmental Domain of Sceaux / Photograph: Olivier Ravoire / View full image

‘The Motorcycle: Design, Art, Desire’, Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA), Brisbane / Photograph: Natasha Harth © QAGOMA

‘The Motorcycle: Design, Art, Desire’, Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA), Brisbane / Photograph: Natasha Harth © QAGOMA / View full image

We are 150 years on from the emergence of steam velocipedes — the first experiments in powered, two-wheeled transport. We are also at a pivotal moment of change between the internal combustion engine and an electrically powered future. At such a time, and with access to new and radically different technologies, designers of motorcycles can challenge conventions, discard the baggage associated with outmoded technology and break old rules. The potential of this moment is best understood when the story is told from the beginning.

In the late 1860s, French inventor Louis‑Guillaume Perreaux married a small steam engine to a Michaux bicycle to create the earliest motorised two-wheeled transport. The two-wheeled race to the future had begun, but, for Perreaux, that race was over before he had left the blocks: the principles of the internal combustion engine had already been envisaged with the first working engine firing up in Cologne in 1876. By 1894, Hildebrand & Wolfmüller in Munich began producing petroleum engine-driven motorcycles commercially, with around 2000 manufactured before the end of the century.

The 1894 Hildebrand und Wolfmüller was the first commercially produced motorcycle and was also made under licence in France as La Pétrolette

The 1894 Hildebrand und Wolfmüller was the first commercially produced motorcycle and was also made under licence in France as La Pétrolette / View full image

Front view of an Indian 8-Valve, 1916 / Arundel Collection /
Photograph: Anne-Marie De Boni

Front view of an Indian 8-Valve, 1916 / Arundel Collection /
Photograph: Anne-Marie De Boni / View full image

Indian ‘Single C’Dora’, 1908 / Bunch Family Collection / Don Whalen Curator / Photograph: Markus Cuff

Indian ‘Single C’Dora’, 1908 / Bunch Family Collection / Don Whalen Curator / Photograph: Markus Cuff / View full image

Advertisement for Indian Motocycle, 1916 / Image courtesy: Albatross / Alamy Stock Photo

Advertisement for Indian Motocycle, 1916 / Image courtesy: Albatross / Alamy Stock Photo / View full image

A rider on an early Harley- Davidson V-twin racer / Harley-Davidson Archives

A rider on an early Harley- Davidson V-twin racer / Harley-Davidson Archives / View full image

At the turn of the century, motorcycles as we recognise them today began to emerge. These early examples had their own charm and beauty; small internal combustion engines set into ‘safety’ bicycle frames, complete with chain-drive transmissions and pneumatic tyres. The innovations that gave rise to the bicycle boom of the 1890s now made the advancement of the motorcycle possible. Within the space of a few years, there was an explosion of invention, with various forms of internal combustion engine-powered, two‑wheeled transport appearing around the world. In 1902, Triumph launched their first model in the United Kingdom, while Indian did the same in the United States, followed soon after by Harley Davidson in 1905. As we prepared for our exhibition, we discovered possibly the earliest motorcycle designed and fabricated in Australia — the Spencer, created by David Spencer in a shed behind his house in Torwood, Brisbane. ‘Design, Art, Desire’ will include the only known intact Spencer from 1906, number three of ten believed to have been built around this time.

RELATED: Read more about the David Spencer story

Spencer motorcycle c.1906 before restoration / Photograph: Paul Reed

Spencer motorcycle c.1906 before restoration / Photograph: Paul Reed / View full image

Spencer motorcycle as it appears today / Spencer motorcycle c.1906 / Courtesy: The Australian Motorlife Museum – Paul Butler Collection / Photograph: Penelope Clay

Spencer motorcycle as it appears today / Spencer motorcycle c.1906 / Courtesy: The Australian Motorlife Museum – Paul Butler Collection / Photograph: Penelope Clay / View full image

As soon as motorcycles were invented, so too were motorsports, with enthusiasts racing each other, and the clock. By 1909, David Spencer was racing his motorcycle competitively where the Gabba cricket ground now stands. Motorcycles quickly evolved in response to the requirements of racing in various conditions. While Spencer’s design was sufficient for powered motion, the introduction of gearing, effective brakes, suspension and increasingly powerful engines soon led motorcycle development in myriad directions. Invention and commercial production were underway from the earliest moments of the twentieth century. The basic design of the motorcycle was established and, for the most part, remained unchanged for the rest of the twentieth century, with very few exceptions.

A clipping from the 1930 Majestic catalogue /
Image source: The Vintagent

A clipping from the 1930 Majestic catalogue /
Image source: The Vintagent / View full image

Majestic c.1929 / Collection: Bobby Haas and Haas Moto Museum / © Haas Moto Galleries LLC / Photograph: Grant Schwingle

Majestic c.1929 / Collection: Bobby Haas and Haas Moto Museum / © Haas Moto Galleries LLC / Photograph: Grant Schwingle / View full image

While the emphasis of early motorcycle design was function, within a couple of decades, designs emerged that shifted the focus squarely to form. The design of the Majestic, invented by Frenchman Georges Roy, seemingly drew more inspiration from the Art Deco design movement and stylish European Grand Prix racing cars of the 1920s — like the legendary Bugatti Type 35 — than any motorcycles of the day. With the workings of the machine concealed beneath brightly painted pressed-metal panels, the Majestic was a sculptural object. It was a visionary design for what would ultimately be a commercial failure in the context of the Great Depression, but it established the motorcycle as a truly aesthetic, and highly desirable, work of art.

Vespa designer Corradino D’Ascanio /
Image courtesy: Piaggio Historical Archive, Pontedera

Vespa designer Corradino D’Ascanio /
Image courtesy: Piaggio Historical Archive, Pontedera / View full image

A Swiss Vespa poster, c.1946

A Swiss Vespa poster, c.1946 / View full image

When Corradino D’Ascanio designed the Vespa for Enrico Piaggio in 1945, he was charged with designing a vehicle that could be ridden by women and men, including priests in their Roman cassocks. D’Ascanio wanted to put Italy on two wheels, but not on motorcycles as Italians knew them. His new vehicle had to be reliable, comfortable, compact, economical, and easy for everyone to ride, no matter the attire. The resulting creation also happened to be elegant, streamlined and iconic. Its pressed-steel monocoque chassis and detachable side panels concealed engine, fuel tank and cables. The step-through frame accommodated all manner of clothing, while leg shields offered protection from road debris and the weather. This beautiful object of design combined commercial and aesthetic agendas so perfectly that it would become one of the most popular and romanticised forms of transport in the twentieth century.

Honda’s pitch to the nicest people in 1960s suburban America /
Image courtesy: Solomon R Guggenheim Museum, New York /
© American Honda Motor Company, Inc.

Honda’s pitch to the nicest people in 1960s suburban America /
Image courtesy: Solomon R Guggenheim Museum, New York /
© American Honda Motor Company, Inc. / View full image

From the post-World War Two boom to the present day, motorcycles have evolved and diversified to address both mass and niche markets. Some makes have become ubiquitous in many parts of the world and have changed very little because they adhere so well to the fundamental rules of motorcycle design and fulfil the demands of the market. Production of the Honda Super Cub, continuously manufactured since 1958, hit 100 million units in recent years, and can rightly take credit for mobilising whole nations in parts of the world. In the Super Cub’s lifetime, thousands of other makes and models have come and gone, but after 60 years, its current iteration still bears a striking resemblance to its first. ‘Design, Art, Desire’ showcases a critical selection of the most important, beautiful and best loved of these machines, and brings them together in one unique story of the motorcycle.

Zooz ‘Concept 01’, 2019 / Image courtesy: Zooz Bikes

Zooz ‘Concept 01’, 2019 / Image courtesy: Zooz Bikes / View full image

Fuller Moto ‘2029’, 2019 / Collection: Bobby Haas and
Haas Moto Museum / © Haas Moto Galleries LLC /
Photograph: Grant Schwingle

Fuller Moto ‘2029’, 2019 / Collection: Bobby Haas and
Haas Moto Museum / © Haas Moto Galleries LLC /
Photograph: Grant Schwingle / View full image

Fuller Moto ‘2029’, 2019 / Bobby Haas and
Haas Moto Museum / © Haas Moto Galleries LLC /
Photograph: Grant Schwingle

Fuller Moto ‘2029’, 2019 / Bobby Haas and
Haas Moto Museum / © Haas Moto Galleries LLC /
Photograph: Grant Schwingle / View full image

Segway Ninebot One S2

Segway Ninebot One S2 / View full image

There is a twist at the end of this story: technologies developed over decades are now converging to create something new and radically different. Lithium batteries, LED lights, 3D printing, computer-aided drafting, and the rapid exchange of ideas fostered by the internet are conspiring against the existing rules of motorcycle design and fostering some incredible experiments. Whether it’s the reductive design of the Zooz, which strips away the superfluous elements of old technology; the spectacular Fuller Moto ‘2029’, which reimagines the Majestic as an electric bike from the future; or the completely disruptive Segway Ninebot One S2, which throws out the rule book altogether, one thing is clear: looking forward, the two-wheeled race to the future is promising to be very different to its first 150 years.

Michael O’Sullivan is Design Manager and Coordinating Curator of ‘The Motorcycle: Design, Art, Desire’ at the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) from 28 November 2020 to 26 April 2021.

Read more about Motorcycles / Subscribe to QAGOMA YouTube to go behind-the-scenes

Featured image: Georges Roy’s ‘Majestic’, 1930 / Bobby Haas and Haas Moto Museum / © Haas Moto Galleries LLC / Photograph: Grant Schwingle

Show off your ride with #MotorcycleGOMA #QAGOMA

Related Stories

  • Read

    List of Motorcycles: Humble origins to cutting-edge prototypes

    We list the motorcycles displayed in ‘The Motorcycle: Design, Art, Desire’ — by year from 1871 until 2020 — these motorcycles were carefully selected for the technical achievements and aesthetic merits they represent. Showcasing 100 motorcycles, ‘The Motorcycle’ spans the history of this dynamic and versatile vehicle, from its humble origins as an engine bolted to a bicycle to the cutting-edge electric prototypes of the twenty-first century. The world’s first steam-powered ‘motorcycle’ was assembled in the late 1860s, more than a decade before the first automobile was designed, and by the early twentieth century all the elements of the modern, internal combustion engine–powered motorcycle had developed. Over the next 120 years, changes in design reflected developments in technology, engineering and manufacturing, as well as the motorcycle’s evolving functions as an inexpensive mode of transportation, racing and on- or off-road vehicle and as an expression of individual creativity. These innovations changed the face of transportation, and the motorcycle has not only become an enduring design icon, but also established its place in society through popular culture, literature and film. ‘The Motorcycle: Design, Art, Desire’ offered a rare opportunity to see geographically and historically diverse motorcycles together in one place. From the hubs of motorcycle manufacturing in the United Kingdom, the United States and Japan to less likely sources of unique designs in New Zealand and Australia, ‘The Motorcycle’ showcased a machine at the pinnacle of design excellence and evokes a world of innovation, excitement and desire. ‘The Motorcycle’ exhibition was in Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) from 28 November 2020 until 26 April 2021. RELATED: Read more about the bikes in ‘THE MOTORCYCLE’ exhibition AUSTRALIAN DESIGNED: Read about our LOCAL MOTORCYCLE HISTORY List of motorcycles by year of manufacture 1871 Perreaux Steam Velocipede (above) France Collection: Department of Hauts-de-Seine / Museum of the Departmental Domain of Sceaux WATCH THE VIDEO: Co-curator Virtual Tour #1 Perreaux Steam Velocipede DELVE DEEPER: 5 innovative motorcycles that changed the way we ride 1898 Cleveland Tricycle (above) USA Bunch Family Collection, Don Whalen, Curator DELVE DEEPER: 5 innovative motorcycles that changed the way we ride 1903 Minerva with Mills and Fulford Forecar (above) Belgium Collection: Bobby Haas and Haas Moto Museum DELVE DEEPER: Two’s company: 5 motorcycles for carrying a passenger 1906 Spencer (above) Australia The Australian Motorlife Museum – Paul Butler Collection DELVE DEEPER: Australian-born: The Spencer motorcycle story WATCH THE VIDEO: Co-curator Virtual Tour #2 Spencer 1908 Indian Single CeDora (above) USA Bunch Family Collection, Don Whalen Curator DELVE DEEPER : Indian Single 1908 owned by pioneering stuntwoman Cedora 1912 Henderson Four (above) USA Clyde Crouch Collection DELVE DEEPER: Henderson Four the largest and fastest motorcycle of its time DELVE DEEPER: Two’s company: 5 motorcycles for carrying a passenger 1914 Whiting (above) Australia Lowe Family Collection DELVE DEEPER: The Australian Whiting: The last word in motorcycle luxury 1914 Harley-Davidson 10F (above) USA Harley City Collection 1916 Indian 8-Valve (above) USA Arundel Collection 1919 ABC (above) United Kingdom Courtesy of the Clyde Crouch Collection DELVE DEEPER: 5 innovative motorcycles that changed the way we ride 1920 (engine) Indian Scout Special (above) USA; New Zealand Collection: Clyde Crouch DELVE DEEPER: Bert Munro’s 1920 Indian Scout Special still the worlds fastest WATCH THE VIDEO: Co-curator Virtual Tour #5 Indian Scout Special 1921 Ner-a-Car USA Bunch Family Collection, Don Whalen Curator 1924 Moto Guzzi Tipo Normale Italy Collection: The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, Birmingham, Alabama, USA 1924 BMW R32 Germany Collection: Trevor Dean 1926 Indian Hillclimber USA Arundel Collection 1926 Peugeot P104 France Collection: Bobby Haas and Haas Moto Museum 1927 Harley-Davidson FHA (above) USA Harley City Collection DELVE DEEPER: Two’s company: 5 motorcycles for carrying a passenger 1928 Harley-Davidson Model SA Peashooter (above) USA Harley City Collection DELVE DEEPER: 5 speedway racers DELVE DEEPER: Two’s company: 5 motorcycles for carrying a passenger 1928 Scott Flying Squirrel United Kingdom Collection of Mr and Mrs Hans Sprangers 1928 Harley-Davidson JDH Special USA Harley City Collection 1928 Indian Model 401 USA Arundel Collection c.1929 Majestic (above) France Collection: Bobby Haas and Haas Moto Museum DELVE DEEPER: The MotoThe Majestic, the greatest of all French motorcycle designs 1929 Opel Motoclub Neander Germany Collection: Bobby Haas and Haas Moto Museum 1929 Ariel Model F (above) United Kingdom Collection of Bob Muss, Australia WATCH THE VIDEO: Co-curator Virtual Tour #4 Ariel Model F 1929 Norton CS1 United Kingdom Collection of John Richardson 1929 Douglas DT/5 Speedway (above) USA Private Collection, Sydney DELVE DEEPER: 5 speedway racers 1931 Dresch Monobloc France Collection: Bobby Haas and Haas Moto Museum 1933 Harley-Davidson DAH USA Harley City Collection 1934 Crocker Speedway (above) USA Harley City Collection DELVE DEEPER: The Crocker motorcycles: Built for speed DELVE DEEPER: 5 speedway racers 1935 Brough Superior 11-50 United Kingdom The Peter and Frances Bender Collection 1936 Koehler-Escoffier Motoball Special France Collection: Bobby Hass and Hass Moto Museum 1938 Crocker (above) USA Harley City Collection DELVE DEEPER: The Crocker motorcycles: Built for speed WATCH THE VIDEO: Co-curator Virtual Tour #3 Crocker 1938 Triumph Speed Twin United Kingdom Image courtesy: The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, Birmingham, Alabama, USA 1940 Indian Chief with Sidecar (above) USA Arundel Collection DELVE DEEPER: Two’s company: 5 motorcycles for carrying a passenger 1942 Socovel Electric (above) Belgium Collection: Bobby Haas and Haas Moto Museum DELVE DEEPER: The Socovel Electric — the world’s first mass-produced electric motorcycle WATCH THE VIDEO: Co-curator Virtual Tour #6 Socovel Electric 1943 Harley-Davidson FL USA Kendal Maroney Collection (KMC) 1948 Moto Guzzi Super Alce (above) Italy Calleja Collection, Melbourne DELVE DEEPER: Two’s company: 5 motorcycles for carrying a passenger 1949 Imme R100 (above) West Germany Collection: The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, Birmingham, Alabama, USA WATCH THE...
  • Read

    5 future focused motorcycles

    While the first patent for an ‘electrical motorcycle’ was filed in 1895, and an electric tandem bicycle was exhibited at the 1896 Stanley Cycle Show in London, it wasn’t until the 2000s that electric power became a viable alternative to the combustion engine. Like all emerging technologies, electric motorcycles are not currently able to keep up with the high speeds and long distances of their established fuel-guzzling counterparts. However, new brands continue to enter the electric market to showcase the latest in innovative technology and designs. RELATED: SOCOVEL ELECTRIC 1942 Electric and petrol-alternative motorcycles have promise to be the future of sustainable transport. Compared to cars, they generally cost less to purchase, consume fewer resources and cause less pollution. Motorcycle designers are now also experimenting with more sustainable materials to build motorcycles, including recycled plastics, bamboo and wood. ‘The Motorcycle’ exhibition was in Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) from 28 November 2020 until 26 April 2021. DELVE DEEPER: Browse the FULL LIST OF MOTORCYCLES RELATED: Read more about THE BIKES ON DISPLAY 1 Vespa Elettrica 2019 Seventy-four years after the Vespa debuted in 1946, this iconic scooter has been reinvented with the introduction of the electric-powered Vespa Elettrica. Designed for navigating city streets and crawling traffic, the Elettrica is envisioned to be the electric equivalent of a 50 cc combustion-engine scooter. With the same curved fairings and smooth lines that Vespa riders know and love, the Elettrica aims to not only provide people with affordable mobility but also make their movements more environmentally sustainable. This scooter has a reverse gear for ease of parking, and will take 4 hours to fully charge when plugged in to a regular household socket. Specifications Country: Italy Power: 4 kW (5 hp) Engine: Electric motor with 4.2 kWh battery Designer: Piaggo Production: 2018-present 2 Tarform Luna Prototype 01 2019 While many future-focused motorcycle brands have turned to electric technology to deal with growing concerns regarding sustainability, Tarform has gone a step further to consider the environmental impact of all elements of their groundbreaking Luna Prototype. This 40 kWh lithium-ion battery-powered motorcycle’s bodywork is made from fully recyclable and biodegradable materials. With a sleek modern look, environmentally friendly approach and lack of noise and fumes, the Luna is appealing to atypical motorcycle riders looking for a clean way to travel the city. Designed to withstand the test of time, the Tarform Luna Prototype 01 has been built for ‘upgradeability and not obsolescence’ — any element from the battery to the panelling can be swapped for a custom look. Specifications Country: USA Power: 40 kW (54 hp) Engine: Electric motor with 10 kWh battery Designer: Taras Kravtchouk Production: 2018-present 3 Zooz Concept 01 2019 In the words of Zooz designer Chris Zahner, ‘The amazing thing about electric bikes is how simple they are. Motors, heat exchangers, exhaust systems and gas tanks are requisite masses on combustion motorcycles. But the electric motorcycle can leave a whole lot more room for interpretation, by minimising the number of elements necessary.’ The Zooz electric bike is an incredibly simple concept presented in an elegant, linear package. The battery is concealed under the seat, and in the middle, where all the propulsion happens traditionally, there is nothing – a void. The Zooz shows what a contemporary electric bike looks like when stripped down to its most basic elements. Specifications Country: USA Power: 4.3 kW (6 hp) Engine: Electric motor with 0.84 kWh battery Designer: Christopher Zahner Production: Custom 4 Cake Kalk OR 2019 The Kalk OR is an electric off-road performance motorcycle that handles bustling cities as well as rocky cross-country paths. This minimalist bike has injection-moulded polycarbonate bodywork and is dominated by a 51.8-volt battery, which allows the rider to choose between four-stroke and two-stroke modes. Despite its futuristic look, the Kalk OR is fully street legal. With a top speed of only 90 km/h, the Kalk OR may not be able to keep up with many of its road-going counterparts, but provides a green alternative for modern riders. Specifications Country: Sweden Power: 11 kW (15 hp) Engine: Electric motor with 2.6 kWh battery Designer: Stefan Ytterborn Production: 2019-present 5 Savic C-Series 2020 The motorcycle industry is embracing electric technology, with electric vehicles entering the market at an increasing rate. Savic Motorcycles founder Dennis Savic describes the Savic C-Series – Australia’s first full-size electric motorcycle – as ‘a unique offering with the most advanced features and functionality that the materials, engineering, electronic controls, electrical technology and 3D printing can offer today’. DELVE DEEPER: SAVIC C-SERIES 2020 Specifications Country: Australia Power: 60 kW (80 hp) Engine: Electric motor with 11 kWh battery Designer: Dennis Savic Production: 2020-present Read more about Motorcycles / Subscribe to QAGOMA YouTube to go behind-the-scenes Show off your ride with #MotorcycleGOMA #QAGOMA
Loading...