Object Details
Artist
Miguel Luciano, born San Juan, Puerto Rico 1972
Gallery Label
Two cherry-red Schwinn bicycles, decked out with horns and American and Puerto Rican flags, are joined to form one three-wheeled, double-headed creature.
The word pa'lante, Spanish slang meaning "forward," glows above. The term became famous as the name of a civil rights newspaper in Puerto Rico in the 1960s. In following years, it has evoked Puerto Rican independence and statehood and become a mindset of strength and resilience in the face of hurricanes and other hardships.
Paired with a bicycle that can go in two directions at once--and so goes nowhere--the word also takes on an ironic meaning. Luciano's sculpture brims with Puerto Rican pride while acknowledging the difficulties that hinder the island's forward motion.
Credit Line
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase made possible by Marianna and Juan A. Sabater
Copyright
© 2017, Miguel Luciano. photo: Jason Wyche
Date
2017
Object number
2020.25.1
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
Installation Art
Medium
1952 Schwinn Phantom bicycles, flags
Dimensions
overall: 120 × 40 × 32 in. (304.8 × 101.6 × 81.3 cm)
See more items in
Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection
Department
Painting and Sculpture
On View
Smithsonian American Art Museum, 3rd Floor, East Wing
Data Source
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Topic
Architecture\vehicle\bicycle
Link to Original Record
Record ID
saam_2020.25.1