All those who are passionate about skateboarding and Chinese culture will have the opportunity to visit an exhibition entitled “Skating the Greater Bay Area.”
Spanning 10 Fantasia gallery’s rooms C01 and C02, the exhibits primarily focus on depictions of traditional Chinese cultural emblems such as protection deities Nezha and Guanyin, as well as Cantonese opera, painted on the underside of skateboards.
On the information board at the exhibition venue, the curator says in a message that the exhibition showcases the creativity and talent of young artists from the three regions of the Greater Bay Area (GBA), conveying the cultural vitality and innovative spirit of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau conurbation.
In the message, the curator also states that there are plans to take the exhibition to the host city of the Los Angeles Olympics, introducing the creative works of the GBA to a global audience. The exhibition aims to transform skateboards into a bridge connecting cultures, revitalising intangible cultural heritage through contemporary art.
The skateboard, according to Wikipedia, was born during the 1950s California surf culture. Skateboards were first homemade “sidewalk surfers” with roller skate wheels. The 1970s urethane wheel revolution allowed for faster speeds and tricks.
Skateboarding exploded with the vert ramp craze, then evolved again in the 1980s with street skating’s technical tricks. From backyard pools to the Olympic Games, it has grown from a simple pastime into a global athletic and cultural force.
Skateboard art, according to DeepSeek, is the graphic design and illustration applied to the bottom of skateboard decks. It evolved from the 1950s surf culture into a powerful form of cultural expression, reflecting skateboarding’s rebellious spirit through punk aggression, subversive 90s humour, and modern diverse styles. It transforms the functional deck into a canvas for identity and art.
Exhibitiongoers may visit the free-admission gallery located on Calçada da Igreja de S. Lázaro (瘋堂斜巷) from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. until Thursday. More information can be found on the 10 Fantasia Facebook page or website.
Photos:Armindo Neves
