History in 100 motorbikes

After closing down abruptly earlier this year due to the Covid-19 Pandemic the, Queensland Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA), sitting commandingly on the edge of the Brisbane River, reopened its doors fully last week to the roar of its brand new exhibition, The Motorcycle: Art, Design, Desire.

If you’re a motorcycle enthusiast, then heading to this world-exclusive exhibition, only in Brisbane, is a no-brainer.

For me, the idea of an exhibition full of motorbikes didn’t quite rock my world, however visitors who may think it’s not for them may be pleasantly surprised. I found myself leaving with a new appreciation for the motorcycle and an overwhelming urge to hit the road and let the world blow in the wind behind me.

For, with more than 100 innovative and influential motorcycles from the 1860s to present day, the exhibition also considers the motorcycle from the perspective of social history, popular culture, design and technology. It views bikes as enduring objects of design and art, looking at the motorcycle’s past, present and future.

The exhibition is an impressive showcase, especially when you consider the additional complication and logistics of bringing in a large chunk of the exhibition pieces from the US and Europe to Australia in the middle of a global pandemic. Thirty bikes were shipped from Texas alone.

Read the full story here.