The Big Wheel

sculpture by Burden

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July 21, 2026

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"The Big Wheel" is a sculpture created by artist Chris Burden in 1979. This piece marked a shift in Burden's artistic focus from performance art to large-scale sculptural works that incorporated engineering and technology. The sculpture features a motorcycle connected to a large cast-iron flywheel. When the motorcycle's engine is revved, the flywheel spins, demonstrating Burden's interest in mechanical engineering and referencing the tradition of the ready-made in art. This work is distinct from the amusement ride known as a "big wheel" or Ferris wheel.1234

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Chris Burden
…first sculpture of that period, The Big Wheel (1979), demonstrates his aptitude for engineering while it also makes reference to Dada artist Marcel Duchamp and the tradition of the ready-made. The work is composed of a motorcycle and a very large cast-iron flywheel, which spins when the motorcycle engine is…
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…first sculpture of that period, The Big Wheel (1979), demonstrates his aptitude for engineering while it also makes reference to Dada artist Marcel Duchamp and the tradition of the ready-made. The work is composed of a motorcycle and a very large cast-iron flywheel, which spins when the motorcycle engine is…
Read More