Bike pedal covered in woollen crochet and the word ‘yes’ embroidered on it

The pedal is from a rainbow coloured crocheted bicycle, which bears photographs and quotes relating to the marriage of Lucy Turnbull and then Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. The ‘Love Wheels’ bicycle was made by Eloise Murphy in 2017, as both a tribute to the Turnbull’s marriage and as a contribution to the public debate about marriage equality in Australia. ‘Love Wheels’ reflects the national debate regarding the issue of marriage equality in Australia.

The Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey, which took place between September-November 2017, The survey determined public opinion regarding whether the Marriage Act should be amended to make same-sex marriage legal. It was highly controversial and vigorous campaigning took place on both the ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ sides. On 15 November 2017 the Australian Bureau of Statistics announced the survey’s results: 61.6 per cent of participants had voted ‘yes’. Three weeks later the House of Representatives amended the Marriage Act, redefining marriage as ‘a union of two people’.

While Eloise created ‘Love Wheels’ as a tribute to the Turnbull’s marriage, its rainbow colour scheme, ‘Yes’ embroidery, timing of its creation and dedication outside of the Prime Minister’s private residence, also made it a work of support for the ‘Yes’ movement.