1889- Gustave Eiffel’s Tower is built as a focal point of the World’s Fair held in Paris to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. Initially reviled by Parisians, the tower has since become the emblem of Paris.

1893- George Ferris, a bridge builder like Eiffel, creates the Ferris Wheel for the Chicago World’s Fair. The 250-foot steel-structured rotating wheel is intended to be a spectacle surpassing the Eiffel Tower.

1913- Marcel Duchamp creates Bicycle Wheel, the first and perhaps most famous of his “readymades”.  The Frenchman later cites his fascination with Ferris Wheels as an inspiration for the piece. For Duchamp, technology was not to be taken seriously; the wheel, perhaps the ultimate milestone in the history of invention, was for play instead of work.

Built to commemorate the French Revolution, the Eiffel Tower inspired Ferris to create a revolving wrought iron marvel to surpass it. Twenty years later Duchamp’s love of Ferris Wheels led to the first readymade and caused a revolution in art.  Tours de Revolution is a Ferris wheel made of Eiffel towers, bringing this famous landmark full circle.