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Hackney's cycling cultures: 'Bike Portraits' is a photo exhibition with a difference

Monday 11 July 2011

Bike Portraits

Bike Portraits, organised by UEL Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Kat Jungnickel, as part of a sociology research project on cycling cultures in the UK, is not your typical photographic exhibition.

Seeking to present some of the rich and diverse cycling cultures of Hackney, East London, the exhibition will pop up for a short time across cycle stores and cafés in the area, while people looking to attend are encouraged to cycle from venue to venue.

25 portraits were taken in and around Hackney during the past twelve months. Derived from David Hockney's collages and comprised of up to 60 images, each portrait has a unique shape that emerges in the making. Left deliberately messy with jagged edges, exaggerated horizons and absurd architectures, they point to the nature of the personal, sensory and multidimensional experience of cycling.

Kat said: "These portraits represent a broad spectrum of people, of all ages and backgrounds, bicycles and urban locations that together make up 'normal' and 'everyday' cycling in the borough.

“People cycle an incredible range of bicycles, wear all kinds of clothing and experience the city in ways very different to that of drivers, pedestrians and public transport users. These portraits go some way to reflect the unique character of cycling and intimate relationship between people, their bikes and the borough."

Hackney has seen the highest increase in cyclists of any of the London boroughs in recent years.The private view takes place on Saturday, 30 July starting at 2.00pm with a bike ride between the five venues and runs until the end of August.

The venues for Bike Portraits are: Two Wheels Good (165 Stoke Newington Church Street); Push Cycles (35c Newington Green); London Fields Cycles (281 Mare Street); Lock 7 (129 Pritchard's Road) and Look Mum No Hands (49 Old Street).

To attend the launch ride and private view, contact Kat Jungnickel: K.E.Jungnickel@uel.ac.uk

For further information, visit Cycling Cultures visit here where a short film of the event will also be available.

'Bike Portraits is supported by the University's Creative Communities Fund', a scheme to support innovations in creative teaching, practice and research.'

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Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

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