Meet The Artist: Richard Wilks on “Evotrope” for “No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man”

Video Player is loading.

Current Time 0:00

Duration 0:00

Loaded: 0%

Stream Type LIVE

Remaining Time 0:00

Inspired by Steampunk and 1970s bike culture, Richard Wilks’ Evotrope is a three-wheeled vehicle that explores the artist’s connection to the natural world.

RICHARD WILKS: My name is Richard Wilks. I’m here with my “Evotrope” at the Renwick Gallery. My personal background is in ‘70s bike culture, racing BMX bikes back in the ‘70s, that kind of thing. Bikes have always been an important piece to me. For many reasons, I like this scale, this size. It’s about eight feet tall and twelve feet long, and it’s like a two or three-person experience either driving it or really engaging with it. It’s built on three unicycles. The front person steers with their hips. They are able to turn just like a unicycle, but it’s on a post so it’s something that you can rotate and not worry about falling over obviously. Then the two rear unicycles really give you the power. They don’t have to worry about turning, those unicycles just point directly forward. With that three-point unicycle system that’s what propels all of us. It’s deceptively lightweight. It looks heavy, but it’s really lightweight, so the person in the front can actually steer and drive with no problem.

The fun thing is, and sometimes I’ve gone out on the Playa where I go out on my own and I’ll see two people walking and I’ll say, “hey, do you want a ride?” People will ask, “hey, can we help you out?” So many times, it has happened like that. You give people rides. That’s one of the layers of interaction that that piece has.

It’s a very steampunk inspired piece. I think you can see, it’s important to see the craft that a human being touched this on every little ripple, so the artwork takes on different themes. I’ll change out the blades. In this case, I’m exploring the way I personally connect with the natural world. Because of technology for me, I’ve started to lose that connection. I just wanted to remind myself that I’m a human being and a part of this larger whole. A lot of times my work tends to be circular in nature. In this case, this artwork, the eye represents humanity and then the fish jumping into the eye is the natural world. That holistic balance, that’s what that represents. There aren’t that many festivals where I can bring a mobile contraption. That’s probably the main inspiration for me that Burning Man became was being able to blend making these kinds of mobile contraptions and mobile art and that freedom to do that, freedom to express that. Transportation and art, just merging those together.

More Videos

Browse All Videos

Our America Audio Podcast - Elizabeth Broun, "Mis Hermanos" by Jesse Trevino

This audio podcast series discusses artworks and themes in the exhibition Our America: The Latino Presence in American Art at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Our America Audio Podcast - Elizabeth Broun, works by Margarita Cabrera

This audio podcast series discusses artworks and themes in the exhibition Our America: The Latino Presence in American Art at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Our America Audio Podcast - works by Freddy Rodriguez

This audio podcast series discusses artworks and themes in the exhibition Our America: The Latino Presence in American Art at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Our America Audio Podcast - Amado M. Pena Jr., "Mestizo"

This audio podcast series discusses artworks and themes in the exhibition Our America: The Latino Presence in American Art at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. In this episode, artist Amado M.

Visit Planning

Access Programs

Museums

Explore Art and Artists

Something Fun

Exhibitions

Art Conservation

Collection Highlights

Research Resources

Publications

Fellows and Interns

Featured Resource

For K-12 Teachers

For Lifelong Learners

Learn from Home

Featured Resource

Latest News

About the Museums

Host an Event

Connect with Us

Shop Online

Featured Story

Donate

Join

Become a member

Meet The Artist: Richard Wilks on “Evotrope” for “No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man”

More Videos

Visit Planning

Access Programs

Museums

Explore Art and Artists

Something Fun

Exhibitions

Art Conservation

Collection Highlights

Research Resources

Publications

Fellows and Interns

Featured Resource

For K-12 Teachers

For Lifelong Learners

Learn from Home

Featured Resource

Latest News

About the Museums

Host an Event

Connect with Us

Shop Online

Featured Story

Donate

Join

Become a member

Meet The Artist: Richard Wilks on ​“Evotrope” for ​“No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man”

Meet The Artist: Richard Wilks on “Evotrope” for “No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man”