Against the Grain: the exhibition exploring the subculture of skaters
Perhaps one of the longest lasting subcultures in history, skaters have been breaking boundaries and rules since day dot. <em>Against the Grain: Skate Culture and the Camera </em>celebrates the phenomena of skateboarding through the eyes of some notorious filmmakers and photographers. Brought together for the first time, <em>Against the Grain </em>celebrates the artistry of skate culture, and highlights the cultural shifts over the past 50 years, taking a look behind the scenes of the elusive world. From Southern California pools and schoolyard banks of the 1970s to the changing urban architecture, it captures the evolving landscapes of the culture evocatively.
Featuring never-seen-before photography from the archive of Oscar-winning director Spike Jonze, like the captivating shot of Jason Lee and Mark Gonzales above, the exhibition encapsulates the broad culture of skater-life. With work from American icons Glen E. Friedman to Dobie Campbell, as well as archived material from SkateBoarder, Thrasher and more. Photographers who have risked their lives and reputations on shots, in reckless and controversial environments, “the exhibition focuses on content falling outside the commonly held frame, and offers a number of lenses through which to view its many histories”.
<em>Launching this July in London, the exhibition will then tour to North America during 2019, as well as Tokyo in 2020 for the Olympics, when skateboarding will be included for the first time. In London, the exhibition will run from 7th until the 22nd July 2018, Tuesday to Sunday, 12-7pm at 15 Bateman Street, Soho W1D 3AQ.</em>
