Selfridges window installation by Kyle Bean

Suspended Honda Fireblade motorcycles side by side in the windows of London's Selfridges
Designer, Kyle Bean, has suspended two Honda Fireblade motorcycles side by side in the windows of London's Selfridges - one in its recognisable form and the other, dismantled and installed as a intricate mobile of its parts.
(Image credit: TBC)
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For a department store known for selling the newest in fashion, design and gadgets, Selfridges' latest window display is something of a surprise. Suspended from giant weighing scales in the 'Wonder room' is a dismantled Honda Fireblade motorcycle, complete with dangling wires.

Created by young designer, Kyle Bean, of multidisciplinary agency, Blinkart, the installation in the London store is balanced by a perfectly intact version of the same bike. One of a series of works in the windows by Bean, it's inspired by the scientific theory that 'matter cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed'.

Elsewhere, the designer - known for his extraordinarily detailed, handmade models for department stores, magazines and brands like Diet Coke - has transformed three fairytale books into an intricate sculpture of a castle. And in another window, there's a cardboard box suspended beside an office chair that has been immaculately sculpted from the same material.

Bean's window displays at Selfridges will be on show until 1st September. The designer and his team installed the motorcycle parts as a live art performance.

Suspended motorcycle parts

The installation was inspired by the scientific theory that 'matter cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed'

(Image credit: TBC)

The dismantled motorcycle was installed in a live performance by Bean and his team

The dismantled motorcycle was installed in a live performance by Bean and his team

(Image credit: TBC)

A cardboard box and its counterweight - a chair immaculately sculpted from the same material - by Kyle Bean

A cardboard box and its counterweight - a chair immaculately sculpted from the same material - by Kyle Bean

(Image credit: TBC)

The cardboard chair by Kyle Bean

The cardboard chair by Kyle Bean

(Image credit: TBC)

Bean has compacted 1000 aluminum cans into a small cube, which is presented beside another cube of cans in their original state

Bean has compacted 1000 aluminum cans into a small cube, which is presented beside another cube of cans in their original state

(Image credit: TBC)

The cube of 1000 compressed cans

The cube of 1000 compressed cans

(Image credit: TBC)

A cube of cans in their original state

A cube of cans in their original state

(Image credit: TBC)

Bean has used his trademark paper crafting skills to create an intricate sculpture of a castle from the pages of three counterweight fairy tale books.

Bean has used his trademark paper crafting skills to create an intricate sculpture of a castle from the pages of three counterweight fairy tale books.

(Image credit: TBC)

The castle sculpture by Kyle Bean

The castle sculpture by Kyle Bean

(Image credit: TBC)

A wedding cake is strung up beside a mobile of its components

A wedding cake is strung up beside a mobile of its components

(Image credit: TBC)

The mobile of cake ingredients

The mobile of cake ingredients

(Image credit: TBC)
Malaika Byng

Malaika Byng is an editor, writer and consultant covering everything from architecture, design and ecology to art and craft. She was online editor for Wallpaper* magazine for three years and more recently editor of Crafts magazine, until she decided to go freelance in 2022. Based in London, she now writes for the Financial Times, Metropolis, Kinfolk and The Plant, among others. 

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