in any case, it's sydney's latest thing too. last month an exhibition showcasing the bikes and profiles of some of this city's seminal riders was held at the galleries at town hall. here's a small write-up i did of it at the time. it came with some very trendy photos from my disposable camera, but they've proven too painfully hip to convert to digital format. maybe later.
Fixed Up is a celebration and exploration of the fixed gear bicycle culture in Sydney. The free exhibition coincides directly with a rebranding of The Galleries Victoria into its new younger, sharper, hipper moniker – simply ‘The Galleries.’
In a none-too-subtle move, one could be forgiven for thinking that Fixed Up was established as the visually catching nectar to the young, sharp and hip types to which stores like Incu, Graniph and Carhartt already cater. It does this, and it does it well. But as the brainchild of some of the founding members of Sydney Sunday Sessions (who also happen to work at Incu), Fixed Up has real integrity. The format began as an idea for Monster Children gallery, but when guys at the newly-branded The Galleries caught the scent, the exhibition was moved to the vaulted central space above Town Hall station.
And, it must be said, it’s had impressive results. Just over a handful of individually impressive and loved bikes hang from the vaulted ceiling, and swing wistfully in the breeze. A playful wooden display cabinet giving insight into its rider, the fixed gear scene, and Sydney Sunday Sessions itself accompanies each bicycle hanging above. The boxes aren’t particularly ostentatious or self-glorifying, and the text and accumulated miscellanea lends the installation a friendly, genuine feel. It’s a shame, though, that the bicycles haven’t been given full reign of the space they have; their shackles sometimes lead them to touch or bump. Granted, it’s more a fault of opportunity, because there is so much space that could have been utilised.
Some may say deride this as another hipster sell-out, but the tone is playful and fun, and its origins are genuine. As SSS and bike polo rider Eirlie Chisholm maintained, it’s all about showing the fixed gear bicycle as a fun and healthy way to get around or get some socialising. It also forms a fitting entree to the Bicycle Film Festival later in the year. Even so, it’s unavoidable that the exhibition is set up, ostensibly, in a shopping centre. Supporters would say that it comes with the territory of getting a wide audience, but detractors would equally say that it’s a giant marketing exercise. For my money, I’d lean slightly on the former, for the great vibe around the whole thing.
Until August 15th, two bikes are set up on rollers every Thursday night for the Goldsprint time-trials – progressing to find the fastest Sydney fixed rider. These races really extend the fun on the whole exhibition, with everyone from hardcore riders to some suited men having a go. Opening night even featured an intense father-son race.
Fixed Up attracts those in the know or walking through – those that are already interested, without screaming its presence to the world. This is exactly what the proprietors of The Galleries, and the exhibition itself, could have wanted. The hate surrounding the affectations of the fixed gear scene is unavoidable, and the need for cool subtlety when drawing in this elusive young market is paramount. This exhibition manages to strike a workable balance of celebration, passion and advertisement to rally cycling enthusiasts and bring in new customers.
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