THE STORIES TOLD BY BIKES

PhotographyEditor:Charlotte Davies

Louisa Mcdonald

My hometown of Oxford is known for being a cycling city full of life. From students wobbling across the city on cheap rental bikes, to accomplished cyclists clad in Lycra zipping through the streets, there is no doubt that the abundance of bicycles is part of what gives Oxford its distinctive charm In my series of photographs, I have tried to capture the way in which bicycles shape Oxford’s character as a city, as well as the lives of those who call it home. I have edited the colours in the photographs to reflect the various meanings bicycles can take on in different landscapes and in different people’s lives: some are entirely black and white, others are entirely in colour, and some are a mixture of both I also like to work with various locations, as to make the photographs also reflect the different landscapes within Oxford itself. Some photos were taken in the centre of town, others were taken in and around Summertown, a lively suburb to the North of the city. Moreover, most of these photographs were taken during the pandemic; when the city had otherwise begun to feel lifeless Cycling remained a way for people to escape the monotony of life under lockdown When you get used to living in the city, bicycles become such a common sight that they can fade into the background; yet it is precisely when we take a step back from everyday objects and examine them more closely that their aesthetic and cultural significance becomes apparent. Objects are never merely objects: they acquire meaning in virtue of function, history, and tradition