The “art” world, the one that neither you nor I generally understand, offers us works in the image and likeness of the Nomoto concept by American industrial designer Joey Ruiter. A gadget with the shapes of an electrical transformer that has the capacity to transport us from point A to B in an economical and sustainable way, also managing to blend in with the urban landscape.
A priori, the story sounds ideal to us if we put it in context with the times we are living in, where all these types of inventions tend to be very well received by the majority. Now, can the Nomoto really be considered a regular motorcycle just because it has one handlebar and two wheels?
Nomoto concept: Minimalist urban camouflage
There is no doubt that Ruiter’s Nomoto can generate controversy when determining what it really is, and what the exact cataloging would be when referring to it. However, in defense of its creator, we must clarify that he himself alludes to the fact that we are not dealing with a motorcycle, hence the name. On the official website of the project it is explained that: ““Ruiter’s project is not about a motorcycle at all, but about the environment in which it is located.”
With the matter clarified, now it remains to analyze the pros and cons of a means of transport like the Nomoto. And to tell the truth there are things that make it interesting, such as the fact that it goes unnoticed by the expert eye of motorcycle thieves. In addition, the Nomoto also seeks to be part of the urban furniture, so once parked it can serve the local community as a bench.
This is argued in the project description: “The motorcycle becomes a canvas for graffiti, a bench for a moment of rest. “It has a natural patina from being part of the city.” But once this “social function” is finished, it should be fully functional with the push of a button. At that moment the controls, the seat and the wheels emerge and one can go run errands on a contraption that until now had served as a bench for our elders to feed the pigeons.
“I wanted to create a piece worthy of a museum, that would go completely unnoticed and be so familiar that you would pass by”its creator ultimately clarifies. He has probably achieved the second, although personally I would never exhibit in a museum a cubicle with wheels closer in design to an Iberdrola electrical transformer than to a regular motorcycle… What do you think about Joey Ruiter’s Nomoto?
