The photo series „Beyond its function“ is characterized by human absence. But the trace of the human being is revealed in the appreciation, in the personal relation to the objects – a form of hobby – not unlike the hoarded objects in a private princely chamber of marvels. Byland’s stilllife photos, taken with an analogue view camera, show strongly staged fragments of motorcycles. They come from so-called cafe racers, cult motorcycles that emerged in England in the 1950s in a subculture and have since been restored, converted and maintained by a community of enthusiasts. The individual parts of the historic motorcycles appear as valuable, ethnographic objects through the staging. At the same time, this series offers a glimpse into a niche of motorcycling, which, thanks to the celebration of such individually designed and rebuilt Cafe Racers, has been able to establish its own identity, which still exists today.
Exhibition: Akademikerhaus AKI Zürich 2016
