Barkbeetle
„Originally, this 2017 Ibis Ripley was a grey mouse. Now it’s a bark beetle. „
The faded, worn bike got a new look in the form of a unique texture that bark beetles leave on tree bark. After all, trees, forests, and nature shaped the vision of its owner, Martin.
Client
KOABike
Ibis RipleyServices
Design & Paintshop
COLOR PALETTE
Staying true to the design’s forest-and-trees theme, the color palette draws directly from nature. The base is a deep spruce tone, paired with the soft, muted green of lichen. The main section of the fork and the rear of the frame are finished in a champagne shade— the natural color of spruce wood.
BARK BEETLE
In Czech forests, the bark beetle acts as a natural decomposer, helping to renew the ecosystem by accelerating the breakdown of weakened or old trees. However, when it becomes overpopulated, it disrupts the stability of forest stands, reduces biodiversity, and leaves extensive clearings that alter the microclimate of the landscape. It significantly affects managed forests, where it causes economic damage and requires intensive intervention by foresters. Yet even bark beetle outbreaks have positive ecological effects, as they create space for the emergence of diverse stands with greater age and species variety. Special attention should be given to the aesthetics of its feeding galleries—intricate, almost calligraphic lines carved beneath the bark that document the life cycle of the tiny beetle. These organic structures serve as a fascinating visual record of natural processes.
