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Stunning sculpture made entirely from bicycle tyresLa Poete - image via Mick Davis.jpeg

Stunning sculpture made entirely from bicycle tyres

Artist Mick Davis created the sculpture in the image of Rodin's The Thinker to raise awareness of the environmental issues surrounding tyre waste...
by Elliot Johnston
Sat, Jun 11, 2016 18:47
9

A stunning sculpture in the image of 20th century French sculptor Auguste Rodin's The Thinker has been created using only recycled bicycle tyres in County Kerry, Ireland.

Artist Mick Davis, who studied art in Dublin, is described as an enthusiastic cyclist in the bio on his website. It was this enthusiasm that made him aware of the issue of disposing of old bicycle tyres, and lead him to start working with bicycle tyres as a medium. 

>Read more: when should I change my bike tyres

It was in April 2014 that he began experimenting in creating sculptures from old tyres, an experiment that ultimately lead him to this, his most ambitious tyre-related work to date, Le Poete.

_Le_Poete_3.jpeg

 

Mr Davis told road.cc that the sculpture is based on Rodin's The Thinker, which was originally named Le Poete. The similarities between the two are clear. One, though, is made of bronze and is 112 years old, while the other is made out of bicycle tyres and was completed this year.

Mick Davis and Le Poete.jpeg

Mick Davis and Le Poete

 

He said: "As you know old tyres are a major environmental issue and I hope that showcasing a use for them like this will be an inspiration to others.

"It’s also a wonderful medium for sculpting with. I’m trying to promote this unique and unusual art form"

We're used to dealing with unusual bike art here at road.cc. Whether its monumentally large virtual drawings on ride-sharing app Strava, music made only using noises that bikes can make, or even dodgy cycling infrastructure called art in hindsight, we've covered it.

>Read more: Cyclist draws giant dog on Catford in 150km South London ride

Though, it must be said, we've seen very few things that both look as fantastic as Mick Davis's artwork and has such a positive, sustainable impact on the planet.

Keep up the good work Mick.

cycling art
tyres
recycling
Mick Davis

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9 comments

Avatar
ChancerOnABike | 7 years ago
0 likes

In Seattle the bike shops have bins to put in old innertubes to be recycled into bags

http://www.alchemygoods.com/collections/messenger-style-bags

I bought one, great idea

Avatar
ColT | 7 years ago
0 likes

The Thinker, eh? I wonder what he's Conti-mplating...

Taxi!

Avatar
StraelGuy | 7 years ago
1 like

Not sure about cars but they're a vital pary of the truck, lorry, HGV and construction machinery industries. Just search Youtube for 'retreading'.

Avatar
nowasps | 7 years ago
0 likes

I understand old tyres can be re-used for one or two things, but think of the numbers! I can't imagine bike tyres are more than a drop in the ocean compared to car tyres, though.

 

Not sure I'd want to ride on re-moulds. Are they still legal for cars?

 

Avatar
StraelGuy | 7 years ago
0 likes

My local tip has a tyres cage for car tyres. I chuck old bike tyres in and hope they get recycled sad.

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brooksby | 7 years ago
0 likes

Can tyres be recycled? I know my doorstep collection won't take them - and the local recycling centre (formerly the civic amenity centre, formerly the tip) doesn't let you cycle in because of elf'n'safety .

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james_from_stoke | 7 years ago
0 likes

there should be a way to get your tyres re-rubbered - just melt the rubber off the casing and stick a new layer on. Might get a bit more life out of those nice silk tubs... Then the old rubber could be reused aswell.

Although it's probably not that straightforward to melt vulcanised rubber...

But it would be nice all the same. Surely the manufacturers with all their facilities would be able to do something with them. Could they be mulched down and used in road surfacing instead of/alongside tarmac?

Avatar
kie7077 | 7 years ago
1 like

Quote:

As you know old tyres are a major environmental issue

Didn't know that, and don't know how to recycle them, I end up sticking them in the bin.

2

Also, Is there no way to subscribe to new comments now? I'd like to know when I get a reply without having to re-visit a hundred stories every day.

Avatar
fukawitribe replied to kie7077 | 7 years ago
0 likes

kie7077 wrote:

Also, Is there no way to subscribe to new comments now? I'd like to know when I get a reply without having to re-visit a hundred stories every day.

 

Ah, not just me then. Be nice if the link to a comment from the main page worked too...

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