David Byrne muses on bikes and society in Bicycle Diaries
David Byrne is a cyclist, but definitely not a racer. In his time touring with the Talking Heads and on his own as a mixed media artist, he has always brought a folding bicycle with him as his primary mode of transport. He’s been documenting his observations from the saddle since the early eighties. He his started publishing his diary entries in a blog and that led, in turn, to his new book Bicycle Diaries.
In the book, Byrne offers observations of music, architecture, the urban landspace, how politics affect the growth of cities, globalization and more. He expounds on art, advocacy, poverty and transportation issues in a conversational manner that is easy to read.
I especially enjoyed a part of the book wherein he discussed “outsider art”. Seems that the key difference between being outside and inside has nothing to do with where you went to art school, but more about your ability to work the social miasma that is the art world and the gallery system.
You don’t need to be a cyclist to enjoy this book. It is as much a travelogue as a series of social observations and I strongly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about the world that lurks out there beyond our familiar boundaries.
About the Author:
DAVID BYRNE is a musician, visual artist and filmmaker. A co-founder of the musical group Talking Heads, he has also released several solo albums and garnered an Academy Award for his score to Bernardo Bertolucci’s film The Last Emperor. His art includes photography and installation works, and has been published in five books, most recently Arboretum. His is working on a musical collaboration with Fatboy Slim invoking the life of former First Lady of the Philippines Imelda Marcos, and is currently touring the world in support of “Everything That Happens Will Happen Today,” a second duo album with Brian Eno. Byrne was recently commissioned by the New York City Department of Transportation to design artistic bicycle racks for the city which were installed last August.
About the Book:
Hardcover
5.51 x 8.26in
320 pages
ISBN 9780670021147
$25.95
Tags: bicycle diaries book, bicycle diaries david byrne, bike, bikes, david byrne, New York, new york city, news, style, talking heads
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