Articles
HAVE YOU EVER STOPPED TO THINK HOW SKATEBOARDING AFFECTS OUR PERCEPTION OF THE WORLD AROUND US?
Isn’t it interesting that, for most skaters, when they see a rail conveniently placed in the middle of an open stretch of concrete the first thing that probably pops into their mind is ‘this would make an sick spot for a session.’ The same could be said of a waxed up curb, a smooth run up to a staircase, or even a parking block. But ask people who have never been involved in the culture, and their reply would likely be something completely different.
The moment that an individual becomes involved with skateboarding, the perception of their physical world is permanently altered. This is probably true for a lot of activities, but what is strikingly unique about skateboarding is how this affected perception has been translated into innovative reconstruction. Taking a look at the obstacles that used to define a skate park, you can immediately see how the transition to street skating several decades ago has shifted the collective agreement and perception of what structures should look like. The modern ‘skate plazas’ are a mile away from what ‘skate parks’ used to be.
{Traditional Indoor Skatepark, Lohrain Skatepark}
{Nike Foundation Skate Plaza}
This reconstruction has also pushed the sport further than the limits of traditional skateboarding. Hosoi probably did not imagine something as crazy as the mega ramp, but now little kids (see Mitchie Brusco) are shredding ramps far more outrageous than most well known professionals did back in the day. Furthermore, a tangibly unique mentality of self-aware skateboarding culture has formulated over the past few years, creating fantastic ideas of what skating is, and how its metaphysical application can be relevant outside of the sport.
RAPHAEL ZARKA captures this notion in a series of photographs titled ‘riding modern art’ that exhibits the hidden dynamism in public structures. Zarka states it perfectly: “what strikes me, is that skaters prioritize a relationship with the work rather than a mechanical relationship, aesthetic. For me, all the interest of a sculpture is the variety of movements that it recommends.”
{Photo from Raphael Zarka's "Riding Modern Art}
Skateboarding is many things. One of those things happens to be a tool that redefines an individual’s relationship with the physical world. It pushes the skater to think about the things around them, which is why looking at a loading dock looks like a playground for a skateboarder, whereas it may not catch the eye of an advertising exec or a brilliant mathematician.
This is something beautifully unique that skateboarding, and skaters have given each other. As this perceptual adjustment has disseminated throughout the skateboarding world, new and extraordinary creations are beginning to take place that not only grab the attention of skateboarders, but also people who are not familiar with the culture. For instance, take popular artist Haroshi and his skateboard sculptures, or MoMA’s new 'PARTY WALL.' Pushed even further, this subtle gift can be an invaluable tool to force everyone to reexamine the relationship with his or her surroundings. MATTHEW BARNEY captured this notion in his ‘drawing restraint’ series, and should be something we all strive for: a determination to understand and redefine the world around us through creative innovation.
