Art and innovation combine at MOTAT
MOTAT's Transport Curator Chelsea Renshaw (left) with, Michel Roncara, FTN Motion's General Manager and Janine Williams who created the bespoke artwork for the museum's Streetdog.
MOTAT’s Streetdog, complete with bespoke artwork by Janine Williams (Ngāti Pāoa and Ngā Whātua ki Kaipara) that honours Te Wai Ōrea (Western Springs), will go on display in the Accelerate exhibition from 26 August for visitors to enjoy and learn about.
The FTN Motion team is excited to see their creation go on display to the public. In honour of the occasion FTN will hold a roadshow at MOTAT over the weekend, where visitors (with a restricted car licence or above) can take a Streetdog for a spin. (General admission pricing applies.)
With a vision to build a classic motorcycle designed for environmentally conscious urban commuters, Wellington-based Luke Sinclair and Kendall Bristow finished the first prototype of their electric motorbike during the Covid-19 lockdown.
Together with their Amsterdam-based co-founder Saskia Thornton, they launched FTN Motion in late 2020 and were fulfilling orders soon after. Aotearoa’s early adopters were captivated by the sleek design and environmentally sustainable mission of the electric Streetdog – the first release sold out in just days.
MOTAT also became an early adopter with its purchase, in sync with a direction to collect contemporary examples of New Zealand innovation and encourage young visitors to dream of their own future tech inventions to make the world a better place.
Transport Curator Chelsea Renshaw says: “Acquiring contemporary objects helps us showcase the exciting transport and technology that emerges from Aotearoa.”
The Streetdog is powered by an electric 3KW hub motor; it has an 80km range and a top speed of 50kmph. It also has another nice sustainability feature – a composite hemp body as well as 30 litres of lockable storage, alarm-activated wheel locking and touch-screen display.
The attractive e-motorbikes (moped class) come in a range of desirable colours, but MOTAT’s example has a unique design.
As part of their customisation option, FTN Motion allowed the Collection team to collaborate with artist Janine Williams to create a design for the motorcycle that reflects MOTAT’s location. The artwork is inspired by Te Wai Ōrea (Western Springs), and conversations around kaitiaki (guardianship) of the whenua (land) because electric vehicles are one way that we can help protect flora and fauna from greenhouse emissions.
Janine says the design focuses on the water of Te Wai Ōrea: “The graphic interpretation is designed to remind the viewer that the mauri of this important water source lives, moves, evolves & is being strengthened by our continuous awareness and conservation efforts.”
Co-founder Kendall Bristow says: “I remember visiting MOTAT as a kid and marvelling at the
machines on display – I never imagined that something I created would one day be one of those machines.
“As engineers, and motorbike and electric vehicle enthusiasts, we feel extremely privileged to know the Streetdog will be part of MOTAT’s collection and may inspire a whole new generation of young Kiwis.”
For any queries, interviews or a press pass to MOTAT during the weekend of 26 & 27 August,
please contact:
| 021380 839
For Streetdog queries, contact FTN Motion General Manager, Michel Roncara 021 201 2713