The Motorcycle: Design, Art, Desire

The Motorcycle: Design, Art, Desire is this summer's must-see major themed exhibition showing at the Gallery of Modern Art.  

From November 28 to April 26, 2021, this world exclusive exhibition (only in Brisbane) will feature more than 100 innovative and influential motorcycles, from the 1870s to the present day, displayed across GOMA’s entire ground floor.

Visitors to the gallery will be able to view one of the earliest 19th century steam-powered motorcycles, Perreaux Vélocipède à vapeur (circa 1870) on loan from Paris, as well as new electric bikes heralding the future, including the Savic C-Series Alpha, a 2020 release from Australian automotive designer Dennis Savic.

Highlights of the exhibition include a rare 1906 Spencer (one of the earliest Australian motorcycles designed and manufactured in Auchenflower, Brisbane), 1920 Indian Scout “Munro Special” created by the legendary New Zealand rider Burt Munro, 1927 Harley-Davidson FHA 8-valve speedway racer with sidecar, and 1951 Vincent Black Lightning that set an Australian land speed record in its day and more recently, a world record for the highest price paid at auction for a motorcycle. 

In addition, The Motorcycle will showcase some impressive speed machines: 1916 Indian 8-valve board track racer, 1974 Ducati 750SS, 1994 Britten V1000 (created by NZ design engineer John Britten) and the 2016 Dakar-winning KTM Rally 450 motorcycle ridden by celebrated Australian motorsport champion Toby Price.

The exhibition will feature a range of interactive experiences for all ages to enjoy, including a green screen motorcycle riding experience, a motorcycle design studio where you can build and customise your own virtual bike, and a mobile companion site to help you navigate 150 years of motorcycle design history and learn the stories behind each of the bikes on display.

Visitors can also experience Full Face: Artists’ Helmets, a showcase of some of Australia’s most acclaimed contemporary artists - Archie Moore, Brian Robinson, Callum McGrath and many more - responding to the motorcycle helmet.

Meanwhile, the Gallery’s Australian Cinémathèque will screen classic and contemporary interpretations of motorcycle culture captured in films including The Great Escape 1963, Easy Rider 1969, The Motorcycle Diaries 2004 and Finke: There and Back 2018.

Nice to know - The Motorcycle is accompanied by a hardcover 320-page book that celebrates the history and future of the motorcycle, with images of the motorcycles featured in the exhibition and essays from the exhibition co-curators.

GOMA is a valued partner of Must Do Brisbane.com