| Les Cyclistes A Lansdown Centre project by David Furnham |
Supported by the  |
Les Cyclistes ~ Description
The Installation
The set is of a cycling enthusiast’s kitchen. To one wall is a workbench, to another an old fashioned dresser, and to the third a window to the ‘outside’ world. On the table is an upturned bicycle being repaired. The room is full of cycling photographs, magazines artefacts and memorabilia of all descriptions.
Within the set are a number of video projections and screenings of French and British archive film showing cultural differences often in a humorous way juxtaposed to contemporary video showing cyclists on the London to Brighton Rally, at the York Cycle Rally and at various Tour de France stages. In the birdcage, strangely without birds, miniature cyclists climb the bird ladder. Rarely seen archive moving images of cycling icons come and go and are seen obliquely.
‘Outside’ the window is a representation of the race winner’s podium with a relief of the winner onto which is projected a short film based on slow-mo film of archive French newsreels. A second screen shows a contemporary version of the same. The viewers can navigate the imagery on offer individually.
At regular intervals the cyclist is at home. The public are invited to sit down as the actor gives what appears an impromptu performance. The performance lasts 20 minutes.
There are three actors and the style of each performance will vary according to individual strengths. They are the characters seen in the film Allez, Allez, Alllez – one has a quiet visual humour, the other more manic and the third more eccentric.
Podium Kisses. Two short films play aside each other on the winner’s podium set sharing the same waltz musical accompaniment. The first is set to slo-motion images from archive film whilst the second film playing on the commentator’s monitor shows the rituals of the modern day podium..
The Video Diary invites the visitor to record their cycling stories…
The components of the installation
The historic Citroen Van can accommodate 8 people sitting on stools to view the film Time Trial (16mins)
The Small Marquee (6x6m) with black lining interior is for the screening of Allez, Allez, Allez. Also in the marquee is an ‘interactive cycle’, an artwork cut-out of a cyclist, and a designed display of archive materials reproduced and re-sized based on the events surrounding the cyclist Tom Simpson.
The Interactive Training Cycle allows the visitor to go fast or slow. This is matched by the projected scene ahead…
In the Marquee (6x9m), there are many video screens within the sets – consisting of a representative French cycling winners’ Podium and a cycling enthusiast’s Breton Kitchen. Within these sets, the actors perform solo performances as cycling enthusiasts at home in the kitchen or as ‘bonimenteur’ presenters to the films screened.
The Cyclist’s Kitchen is full of cycling memorabilia, photographs, and magazines of all descriptions. To one wall is a workbench, to another a sideboard and one the third a window to the world outside. Next to this set is that of the Podium. The public view the Kitchen and can view a series of video projections. At regular intervals the public are interrupted by the cyclist whose home it is. The public sit down as the actor gives what appears an impromptu performance. As there are three actors the style of each performance will vary according to their particular strengths. But they reflect the characters in the film Allez, Allez, Allez – one with a quiet visual humour, the other more manic and the third more eccentric.
Representing the outside world, the Podium has a relief of the winner onto which is projected a short film based on slo-motion film of archive French newsreels. Within the same podium the presenter’s computer screen shows a modern day version of the same playing to the same music.
There is also a Video Diary area where visitors are encouraged tell their own cycling stores to camera so forming an original archive collection.
The films and projections
When the films are showing one of the actors plays the part of the early cinema presenter adding comments and sound effects to the presentation. Stephen Horne provides the recorded musical accompaniment
Allez, Allez, Allez (performed by the same actors who are performing live), is the adventures of British Cyclists on holiday in France. On tandem, tricycle and sports cycles they travel the length of France –arriving in Dieppe they travel along the Avenue Verte, crossing the Seine on the free ferry boat, then arriving in the Vendee for the time trials and Stage One of the Tour de France. Then forever onward they arrive at Mount Ventoux where they pay homage to the great British cyclist Tom Simpson at his memorial stone, which marks where he died in 1967. A gently comic film in the style of physical and street theatre and mask, the message is that ‘cycling is for everyone.’
Time Trial
One million people attended the Time Trial of the Tour de France on L’Alpe D’Huez in 2004.All day they waited, in the blistering sun for the riders to pass by. Armstrong strolls by whist Cheryl Crow waits on, but others find the climb more difficult, needing their coaches to sooth their bodies and their minds. Inter-cut in the day’s proceedings are shots of a father and daughter painting their names onto the road surface – another sort of time trial…
Podium Kisses
Two short films play aside each other on the winner’s podium set sharing the same waltz musical accompaniment.
The first is set to slo-motion images from archive film whilst the second next to the commentator’s space plays on ‘his’ computer monitor.
Video Screens around the kitchen set include juxtaposed projections of:
• Archive film French and British showing cultural differences often in a humorous way.
• Contemporary video shows modern cyclists on the London-Brighton Rally, at the York Rally, and various Tour de France stages.
Spectators are free to roam the marquees, van and Gazebo tent with its video diary recording area in any order.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information on this site is correct at the time of publication, but the Lansdown Centre for Electronic Arts cannot accept responsibility for errors.