B.S.A. Tour of Britain Racer Enlarged to 135% 1996 - 1997

Curator: Here we have Elizabeth Wright’s “B.S.A. Tour of Britain Racer Enlarged to 135%,” a sculpture of significant scale, currently residing in the Tate Collections. Editor: It's instantly striking – the oversized bike leans against the wall, emitting an air of faded glory, yet something feels…off. Curator: The enlargement is key. It forces us to reconsider a common object within a capitalist culture obsessed with speed and sporting prowess, especially in relation to British national identity. Editor: Exactly. The BSA logo, the racing stripes—they evoke a specific era, a cultural memory of British manufacturing, now perhaps a little tarnished, a bit…deflated, literally. Curator: I agree. Wright draws attention to labor, to industry, and perhaps to the unfulfilled promises of a bygone era through this magnification and careful re-presentation. Editor: It’s powerful how familiar symbols, when re-contextualized, can speak volumes about shifting cultural narratives. Curator: Indeed, the sculpture compels us to reflect on our relationship to progress and history. Editor: It makes me want to look closer, to understand how these icons continue to shape our present.