Ray Johnson's Bill de Kooning bike seat

Comment

Comment by Valentine Mark Herman on November 11, 2011 at 5:19am

Bike seat sort-of-story.

One of the most distinctive features about the Netherlands is that there are bikes everywhere. Circa 1995 it was reported that there was 1.7 bikes for every Dutch person. Everyone cycles, from the Royal Family downwards -- or upwards, depending on your view of royalty.

Move to the Mail to Maastricht Exhibition earlier this year.

The Danish Mail/Film/Video/Performance artist Niels Lomholt gave the final keynote lecture/talk/performance. On his head he wore a plastic bike seat cover of the type that banks, restuarants, bars, etc give out free to their customers. When you park your bike somewhere, you cover the seat, and so if it rains you don't get a wet bum.

(I have a small collection of these covers, and one day intend to incorporate them into a Bike Installation.)

Niels made the very good point that, safety conscious as they are in general, almost no Dutch cyclist wears a bike helmet -- this is the case about 99% of the time.

BUT they all seem to have these plastic bike seat covers.

Why was this so, he asked? Why do the Dutch take more care to protect their bums than their heads?

No-one seemed to know, certainly not I who had lived in the Netherlands for 25 years.

That's all,

Regards, Val

 

Comment by De Villo Sloan on November 10, 2011 at 6:20pm

Another great post, Oh Boy. When De Kooning moved out to Long Island in the 70s (?) he mostly got around by riding his bicycle. There are lots of pics of that and of course tourists and residents all wanted to see the great man peddling around. I'm figuring this is some reference to that?

Comment by Oh Boy on November 10, 2011 at 5:20pm

I've never been to the Netherlands but would like you to share the bike seat info.

Thanks Oh Boy!

Comment by Valentine Mark Herman on November 10, 2011 at 3:15pm

Oh Boy! Have you ever been to the Netherlands? If so, I'll share some bike seat info with you  that i got from the 'Mail2Maatricht' fun and games;

Regards, Val

Comment by PIRO on November 9, 2011 at 4:18pm

SUPER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!