adel abdessemed carves full-scale camel bone bicycle
(above) la chine est proche, 2013
camel bone
40 3/8 x 73 1/4 x 20 7/8 inches (102.5 x 186 x 52.8 cm)
image © adel abdessemed, adagp paris / courtesy the artist and david zwirner, new york/london

 

 

 

 

algerian artist adel abdessemed’s artistic practice can be defined by a great transformation of medium, reconstructing the materials he works with into sculptures, installations and performances which bear symbolic resonance. ‘la chine est proche’ recently presented at the armory show 2014 for david zwirner, new york is a precise example of this metamorphosis of matter: a full-scale bicycle, intricately fashioned from camel bone. painstaking detail has been implemented into the design, from complex etchings carved into the tires to fluidly wrapped coils and minute markings engraved into the screws. translated from french as ‘china is near’, the hyper-realistic sculptural form is both delicate and durable, and indicates a historical and cultural influence from chinese artisans who use the material to craft jewelry and charms.

adel-abdessemed-carves-camel-bone-bicycle-designboom-09
la chine est proche, 2013
camel bone
40 3/8 x 73 1/4 x 20 7/8 inches (102.5 x 186 x 52.8 cm)
image © adel abdessemed, adagp paris / courtesy the artist and david zwirner, new york/london

adel-abdessemed-carves-camel-bone-bicycle-designboom-08
la chine est proche, 2013 (detail)
camel bone
40 3/8 x 73 1/4 x 20 7/8 inches (102.5 x 186 x 52.8 cm)
image © adel abdessemed, adagp paris / courtesy the artist and david zwirner, new york/london

adel-abdessemed-carves-camel-bone-bicycle-designboom-05
la chine est proche, 2013 (detail)
camel bone
40 3/8 x 73 1/4 x 20 7/8 inches (102.5 x 186 x 52.8 cm)
image © adel abdessemed, adagp paris / courtesy the artist and david zwirner, new york/london

adel-abdessemed-carves-camel-bone-bicycle-designboom-06
la chine est proche, 2013 (detail)
camel bone
40 3/8 x 73 1/4 x 20 7/8 inches (102.5 x 186 x 52.8 cm)
image © adel abdessemed, adagp paris / courtesy the artist and david zwirner, new york/london

adel-abdessemed-carves-camel-bone-bicycle-designboom-07
la chine est proche, 2013 (detail)
camel bone
40 3/8 x 73 1/4 x 20 7/8 inches (102.5 x 186 x 52.8 cm)
image © adel abdessemed, adagp paris / courtesy the artist and david zwirner, new york/london

adel abdessemed carves full-scale camel bone bicycle
la chine est proche, 2013
camel bone
40 3/8 x 73 1/4 x 20 7/8 inches (102.5 x 186 x 52.8 cm)
image © adel abdessemed, adagp paris / courtesy the artist and david zwirner, new york/london

adel-abdessemed-carves-camel-bone-bicycle-designboom-04
la chine est proche, 2013
camel bone
40 3/8 x 73 1/4 x 20 7/8 inches (102.5 x 186 x 52.8 cm)
image © adel abdessemed, adagp paris / courtesy the artist and david zwirner, new york/london

adel-abdessemed-carves-camel-bone-bicycle-designboom-03
la chine est proche, 2013
camel bone
40 3/8 x 73 1/4 x 20 7/8 inches (102.5 x 186 x 52.8 cm)
image © adel abdessemed, adagp paris / courtesy the artist and david zwirner, new york/london