Pedal Power Your Workspace

Can your pedal power create enough energy to run your own workspace? Take the challenge in an interactive artwork Nag by Marcus McShane at The Dowse, as part of Bike the Hutt.

Nag is a self-powered art studio, built entirely of recycled materials. Old washing machines, vintage racing bicycles, record players, valve amplifiers, demolition timber, and some very clever wiring come together to create an erratic and exhausting workspace.

For 30 minutes, make your work day into a work of art. The more power you use, the harder you have to pedal – laptops, printers, wifi, lighting, everything. Office workers, artists, designers, writers, planners, architects, accountants - we can work with you all. In the style of the office radio, we’ll also be spinning vinyl by bicycle power also, so bring the records you want to listen to as you work.

It’s both an exercise in foolishness and a demonstration of how little energy the human body can actually produce.

This installation has powered everything from a Wikipedia edit-a-thon to (small) festival stages worldwide, to a Manhattan recording session for The Clean. Nag premiered in Wellington in 2009, and has toured the world across 28 installation seasons. It’s back for one week in The Dowse, as a part of Bike the Hutt.

Sign up, message us about the tools you need to do what you do, and come along to The Dowse between 21 and 28 February 2020. You’ll need to be between 158cm (5’2) and 191cm (6’3) to ride.

Be a part of an art installation that’s toured the world, and spend half an hour trying to power all the equipment you need to work, while working.

To book a time, just fill out this online form about what sort of work you'd like to do, and we'll be in touch:

Thanks to the support of the Creative Communities Fund.