Client: Bert Bakker publishing, 1975
Design: Jelle van der Toorn Vrijthof
“Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values” is a book authored by Robert M. Pirsig, initially published in 1974. This work can be described as a fictionalized autobiography and serves as Pirsig’s first exploration of his philosophical concept known as the ‘Metaphysics of Quality.’
Pirsig encountered a significant challenge in getting his book published, as it was rejected by editors 121 times before finding acceptance. However, once it reached the public, the book achieved remarkable success, consistently appearing on best-seller lists for many years and selling a minimum of 5 million copies worldwide. The title itself appears to be a clever reference to Eugen Herrigel’s 1948 book, “Zen in the Art of Archery.” It’s worth noting that, despite its title, Pirsig clarifies in the introduction that the book should not be associated with the substantial body of factual information related to traditional Zen Buddhist practices. Furthermore, he humorously remarks that the book doesn’t provide much factual information about motorcycles either.
In the artwork described, I attempted to capture a Zen-like atmosphere through various elements, such as symmetry, the keys protruding like wings behind the motorcycle rider, the helmet elevating the rider to a spiritual level, and finally, the central light shining behind the motorcycle rider.
