Street Culture

SYNOPSIS

In his study, The Production of Space, critic Henry Lefebvre states that architecture and planners build structures, but that ultimately the production of ‘space’ exists in the complex intersection between the physical presence of objects and the possibilities for human creativity experienced in everyday life. This group of exhibitions explored the relationship between skateboarding and urban space, a process that involves the unlocking of cities potential as a site of creation, community and human agency.

Skateboarding will continue to remain out-of-step with the routines of the city as skaters seize tactics that are both spatial and temporal. Spaces will be seized for small periods of time until the space is rendered unshakeable. Skateboarding uses public space so that architecture is productive and is consumed by activities that are not explicitly commodified.

The use of word (letters and text) whether in cut-up collages, book art, or graffiti is one of the defining features of contemporary art. Using skateboarding as a vehicle, my exhibitions around this theme championed visual text and word, bypassing and challenging the Internet and information society dominating the world. There has been a resurgence in street art, mail art, concrete poetry, ‘zines, independent comic books, and hand made music album covers in reaction to the wide proliferation of the internet with its specific mediums of delivery such as blogging, social networking, and digital distribution. This re-engagement with a more intimate art, and physicality of material and art making tools, explored how the slowing down of communication in our current techno-culture can be a strategy with which to go back to the basics of correspondence and collaboration in the artistic process. What defines this group of artists is that, like Robert Smithson, they utilize language as matter. The main components of this artistic production resulted in a large public sculpture project and the creation of a zine pavilion in a public gallery which had a “skateable” ramp attached too it fitted with blue tiles and pool coping.

PRESS

The Skateboarder, The Surfer, The Fan and the Curator – Helen Reed, Front Magazine, Fall 2010.
Keith Langergraber – Sam McKinlay, Colour Magazine, Issue 1.3 pp.12-15.
Game Show and Harun Farocki: Deep Play to get to the heart of games – Robin Laurence, Georgia Straight, 2 November 2010.
Spring Arts Preview: Visual Arts Picks – Robin Laurence, Georgia Straight, 28 February 2007.