xiaomeng zhao explores modern china in bicycles in beijing, now series

xiaomeng zhao explores modern china in bicycles in beijing, now series
all images courtesy of xiaomeng zhao

once known as the kingdom of bicycles, china’s citizens once used bikes nearly exclusively for transportation. an essential part of the chinese lifestyle, they were both a cultural symbol and a shared memory of many generations. however, the new millennium has arrived, and with it came car culture. metropolitan cities, like beijing, have grown accustomed to the convenience and easy comfort of a vehicle. 

bicycle in case

lost in the mass move towards automotive transportation, is the humble, always dependable bicycle. formerly the iconic mode of transit, cycling has been reduce to a sign of socially vulnerable groups unable to afford the luxury of a car. artist xiaomeng zhao has spent years watching the massive transitions taking place in modern china. after wondering where bicycles were disappearing too, he set off in search of them. not surprisingly, many were found in a state of disrepair, dilapidated and rusty. 

with a tire and fire extinguisher 

yet, some have managed to live on. ‘bicycles in beijing, now’ documents the unique ways the iron horses of china have been repurposed or are currently used. zhao says about the project, ‘the present fate of these objects is a reflection of how the chinese, as individuals, are coping with the seismic shifts that their lives, and their country is undergoing every day.’ 

bike and chair

broken

behind springs

with chain

covered

with a dog 

bicycle vs car

pile of bikes 

shots from ‘bicycles in beijing, now’

designboom has received this project through its ‘DIY submissions’ feature, which welcomes readers to submit their own work for publication. see more designboom readers submissions here.