BAR2 Lot n° 20

BAR2 JOE BAR TEAM Volume 5, Vents d'Ouest, 2003 Motocross et beau pilotage, original plate no. 15. Signed. India ink and white gouache on paper 40 × 52.5 cm (15.75 × 20.67 in.) If Bar2 is to be believed, a number of his gags were inspired by his experience as a biker. A confession that may prompt some of his fans to ask: to what extent does Bar2 inhabit his characters? In this panel, for example, is he speaking through Édouard? If so, can we deduce from this that the Joe Bar Team dad doesn't much like motocross? "Let's put it this way: when I was young, motocross was far removed from my idea of motorcycling. For me, at the time, a real motorcycle had to be a racy, powerful machine, built for asphalt and speed. And I didn't see motorcycling as fun or a sport, but as a way of life. To live dangerously. And while I admired crossmen for their skill and physical courage, I didn't see them as true, pure bikers. Only as sportsmen. Or acrobats. And the four weirdos at Joe Bar see it that way, too. Starting with Ed the Handful. Which is hardly surprising, since Ed and his pals are an offshoot of both myself and the hard-core bikers I rubbed shoulders with in my youth. in my youth.