The Cloud XXIX: Triumph Bonneville T120

California By Night: “The Cloud” from Alain Godon x FCR Original

Most of us see certain motorcycles as two-wheeled works of art — aesthetic creations that can be enjoyed not only by the eyes, but by the ears, guts, and heart. However, it’s fairly rare for a well-known artist to turn their vision to the motorcycle as a canvas or medium, so we’re thrilled to showcase this new collaboration between acclaimed painter and sculptor Alain Godon and French workshop FCR Original.

Godon had a passion for art from a young age, but like most artists, it would take him years of work to find his way into the upper echelons of the art world:

“He would have to work relentlessly for several years to forge, with brushstrokes, a style and a technique that would lead to his first major exhibition in Le Touquet in 1996.”

Since then, Godon’s work has been exhibited all over the world, including the Matisse Museum. When the French artist wanted to collaborate on a “motorcycle work of art,” he looked to Sébastien Guillemot of FCR Original — one of France’s most well-respected custom workshops, many of whose builds we’ve featured here on BikeBound. The mission was simple:

“To create a work of art made for adventure.”

Both Godon and FCR Original draw influences from America, particularly California, and here they found their prevailing theme:

“The objective of the creation? To pay tribute to ‘California by night.’ The painting of the tank by Alain Godon, using iconic elements from his paintings, takes us to the heart of Los Angeles: from Venice Beach to Sunset Boulevard via Rodeo Drive, this bike is an invitation to travel.”

The engine cases are also engraved with clouds from Godon’s work, and the rest of the bike is swathed in one-off and catalogue parts from the FCR Original Workshop. The result is “The Cloud XXIX,” which debuted at the prestigious Markowicz Fine Art gallery in Laguna Niguel, California!

Below, FCR Original gives us a full rundown of the build.

The Cloud XXIX: In the Builder’s Words

The Cloud project is the result of the collaboration between the artist Alain Godon and the motorcycle design studio FCR Original. To propose a unique work, shaped by the collaboration of two prestigious names, each an authority in their respective fields.

The Cloud project is also and above all the meeting of two classic motorcycle enthusiasts: Alain Godon and Sébastien Guillemot (CEO of FCR Original), two men wanting to marry their universes for a creation out of the ordinary. The Cloud XXIX debuted at Alain Godon’s solo exhibition at Markowicz Fine Art in Laguna Niguel, California on April 9 2022.

AN AMERICAN COLLABORATION

Since 2010, Markowicz Fine Art Gallery has showcased an array of established international artists such as Andy Warhol, Tom Wesselman, Carole Feuerman, and Fernando Botero. Additionally, emerging artists with exceptional creative talent such as Idan Zareski, L’Atlas, Lyès-Olivier Sidhoum, and progressive street artist, Kaï.

Alain Godon and Bernard Markowicz could have met as children in a school in France, as teenagers on a beach, or in a night club in Paris-Plage. But it was in 2009 that Bernard pushed open the door of an art gallery in Le Touquet. Bernard was amazed by Godon’s 24 Hours series. A collector of the work, he wanted to meet the artist. Over a coffee, the two men spent hours talking, and a collaboration in the United States was born.

In Miami, Alain found a great inspiration, the surprising architecture of the art deco buildings seemed to pose for him. The bright and cheerful colors so characteristic of Miami completely fit his universe. In New York, Alain found his inspiration of what would become his biggest museum show at the Matisse Museum, and in Aspen, he would connect his art with the wonderful scenery of Colorado’s mountains.

A MEETING OF TWO WORLDS

Alain Godon is a French painter and sculptor. At a very young age he discovered a passion for drawing, especially stone and urban landscapes.

Recognized as a visionary, he would have to work relentlessly for several years to forge, with brushstrokes, a style and a technique that would lead to his first major exhibition in Le Touquet in 1996.

A hard worker, he is also a perfectionist in his formalism. Since 1996, dozens of exhibitions in prestigious galleries in Lille, Paris, Amsterdam, Denver and New York have been dedicated to him. Museums also open their doors to him and books on his work follow one another.

FCR Original is a workshop for the creation of custom motorcycles. For 10 years they have been making the dreams and desires of enthusiasts come true. FCR Original masters all the know-how necessary for the success of the most ambitious projects, pushing back the envelope every day to impose no limits on their customers. Their leitmotiv: to create motorcycles made for adventure, for daring men who thirst for freedom and sensation.

ART ON WHEELS

Alain Godon and Sébastien Guillemot shared a common vision for the project: to create a work of art made for adventure. The creation, beyond being admirable, had to awaken the pleasure of a ballad and the desire to explore new horizons.

In addition to the aesthetic aspect, the Cloud is a real mix of universes: from a drawing made by Alain Godon, the workshop has remained faithful to the inspirations of the artist while retaining the signature of the workshop to create a unique work of art.

“I collaborate only with the best. So I asked Sébastien Guillemot to realize with his team my project of a motorcycle work of art. I know that with the know-how of FCR Original at my side, “Cloud” will become a unique work of art…” –Alain Godon

FROM ENGLAND TO CALIFORNIA

The workshop immediately turned to a British motorcycle icon: the Triumph Bonneville T120. A legendary silhouette and style glorified by FCR Original for a result at the crossroads between Abbey Road and Sunset Boulevard.

The objective of the creation? To pay tribute to “California by night.” The painting of the tank by Alain Godon, using iconic elements from his paintings, takes us to the heart of Los Angeles: from Venice Beach to Sunset Boulevard via Rodeo Drive, this bike is an invitation to travel.

SUPERIOR EXPERTISE

To carry out this project, FCR Original had to mobilize their various threads of expertise into peak collaboration. The central point of the build, the tank, whose design had been entrusted to the hands of the artist, was chromed and covered with a black chromed varnish in order to give depth and relief to the design.

Several elements of the machine (the engine casings as well as all the engine covers) have been engraved with the iconic clouds from Alain Godon’s work.

The work also required the realization of several 100% custom-made parts — mirrors, wheel flanges, tank cap moon, emblem mudguard, etc. — in addition to the original parts modified by the workshop.