Raka Rör - a skate Malmö exhibition

Featuring David Shrigley Richard Gilligan Pontus Alv Mike O’Shea Nils Svensson

Phil Evans Martin Hallberg Jonas Adolfsson Sam Ashley Bertrand Trichet

Sarah Meurle Peter Eriksson Jacob Ovgren Peter Liedberg

Marcus NystrĂśm David Turakiewicz Gabe Morford

Published 2013 Produced by Bryggeriet Skate Malmรถ Malmรถ stad Cover photo Richard Gilligan Logo design Peter Liedberg Intro text John Dahlquist Design & Layout Nils Svensson bryggeriet.org skatemalmo.se

During the last decade Malmö has gone through a metamorphosis.

The city has grown, shed its old skin and had a make over. The city blooms. Stapelbäddsparken skatepark is located in the center of the new Malmö. A thick layer of concrete covers Malmö’s old heart: Kockum’s shipyard. Within a stone’s throw from Stapelbäddsparken the new landmark, the Turning Torso, reaches for the sky. Malmö is also famous around the world for other things, some come here primarily for a bike path in Östra Sorgenfri, an asphalt bump in Rosengård and the Malmö Theater’s taxi stop. Together with the skateparks they are destinations away from the beaten track.

Through these places, who´s charms are often not obvious to the untrained eye, the concrete has bloomed and the skateboard scene has grown to be one of the strongest in the world.

Concrete mixed by cement, water and the Scanian soil has proved itself as a fertile hotbed for skateboarding. Today there is a fruitful garden of skate spots, parks and people who together form the Malmö skateboard scene. Perhaps the gardener is Bryggeriet, the organisation that has built the infra structure and spread the seeds, but outside the skateparks there are a series of individual projects and initiatives that grow like weeds outside the garden. They are wild and beautiful even if they are not as well groomed as Stapelbäddsparken, Oxie or Sibbarp skatepark. The flowers are watered by local entrepreneurs, but mostly by the thousands of skaters that tread new paths through the concrete and the streets.

Young and old, Swedish as well as foreign skaters come here, hoping to experience and become a part of the Malmö skateboard scene. They render their experiences through film, pictures and the stories that skateboarding creates. This exhibition shows a selection of local and international artists. It shows how Malmö has influenced local artists and how it has been reproduced by visiting artists, photographers and skaters. The aim is to show some of the perspectives that collectively form the image of Malmö. Common for all is that everybody has worked, influenced and let themselves be influenced by Malmö.

Note: “raka rör” means being clear, upfront and open about something. It can also mean full steam ahead.

1. Kevin Rodriguez, slappy bs smithgrind, Malmö.

2. Remy Taviera, ollie, Malmö.

Name: David Turakiewicz, also known as “Tura” From: Paris, France Years involved in skateboarding: Skateboarding for more than 20 years, making a living off it since 2002.

Occupation: I’m doing Soma and A Propos skate mags.

What is special about the skate scene in Malmö?: I guess the variety of spots and the fact that it’s only skatable half the year. Still, the locals keep building stuff. Added to the natural street spots and those large concrete skateparks, it’s a great summertime destination.

1. Linus Rösell, fs flip, Steppe side, Malmö.

2. Danijel Stankovic, ollie to 50-50, Malmö.

3. Christian Sandell, kickflip, Malmö.

Name: Jonas Adolfsson From: Born and raised in Småland, in a small village called Alstermo.

Years involved in skateboarding: Been rollin’ since the late eighties Occupation: Photography teacher at Bryggeriets Gymnasium.

What is special about the skate scene in Malmö?

What Malmö is producing in skateboarding is ridiculous. That thanks to everyone involved in it.

We simply have everything here; Bryggeriet indoor skatepark, the Gymnasium that comes with it, a core skateshop, dedicated DIY builders, amazing streetskaters, gnarly bowlriders, and a city that a lot of the time seems to like skateboarding more than most other citys. Because all of this, I get the opportunity to shoot pictures of really good skateboarders which make me evolve in my way of beeing a better photographer.

1. Ralph Sandberg 2. Felix Söderberg, fs rock n roll, Avesta. R.I.P

1. TBS - The Train Bank Spot 2. Step it up side - Steppe Side

Name: Richard Gilligan From: Dublin, Ireland Years involved in skateboarding: 23 years.

Occupation: Photographer What is special about the skate scene in Malmö?: The motivation of all involved & the abundance of epic times available at any given time right on your doorstep.

1. The search. Rosengård industrial area. Malmö.

2. Sarah Meurle, gap ollie, industrial harbour area, Malmö.

Name: Peter Eken Eriksson From: Malmö Years involved in skateboarding: On and off since 1977.

Occupation: Popular culture studies What is special about the skate scene in Malmö?: Unity and Diversity.

1. Simon Isaksson, fs nosebluntslide, Västra Hamnen, Malmö.

2. Olof Hörnesten, bs smithgrind, Västra Hamnen, Malmö.

3. Martin Pennlowe, fs noseslide, Klaffbron, Malmö.

Name: Martin Hallberg From: Lund Years involved in skateboarding: Started skating in 1994 Occupation: Student What is special about the skate scene in Malmö?: Probably how all the skaters in Malmö skates together. There’s quite a lot of skaters but everyone knows everyone and it’s a pretty tight scene.

1. Crew, Rosengård, Malmö.

2. Sarah Meurle, gap ollie, Västra Hamnen, Malmö.

3. Eduardo Acosta, Rosengård, Malmö.

4. Eggs, Rosengård, Malmö.

Name: Bertrand Trichet From: France, living in Barcelona Years involved in skateboarding: 20 years or more.

Occupation: Carhartt WIP skateboarding department manager What is special about the skate scene in Malmö?: For me it has to be the city, the space, the people.

I always felt comfortable and relaxed in Malmö, on and off the board. And that is really special and what comes from the scene.

1. Pontus Alv, fs wallride, TBS, Malmö.

2. Steppe Side bonfire night, Malmö.

3. Sleepover party, casa Alv, Malmö.

4. David Mackey, bs lipslide, Malmö.

5. Raven Tershy, fs air, Steppe side, Malmö.

Name: Sam Ashley From: London, UK Years involved in skateboarding: Since 1985 Occupation: Photographer / Photo Editor, Kingpin Skateboard magazine What is special about the skate scene in Malmö?: Skateboarders making the most out of their environment.

Name: Jacob Ovgren 1. Pontus Alv checks out his Toyota that just got a beating down at Steppe side.

Name: Marcus Nyström From: Malmö Occupation: Works at Bryggeriet Skate Org.

From: Helsingborg, lives in Malmö Years involved in skateboarding: 10 years Occupation: Artist What is special about the skate scene in Malmö?

Bryggeriet Skate Org. They make shit happen.

Name: David Shrigley

1. Hjalte Halberg, kickflip, Holma, Malmö.

2. Johan Sundén, Linus Rösell, Hullet, Steppe side, Malmö 3. Daniel Håkansson, pivot to fakie, Cementa, Malmö.

4. Jacob Ovgren.

From: Macclesfield, England. Lives in Glasgow, Scotland

Name: Nils Svensson

Occupation: Artist

From: Malmö

Name: Phil Evans

Years involved in skateboarding: Since the mid 80’s.

From: Bray, Ireland

Occupation: Photographer, Manager at Bryggeriet Skate Org.

Years involved in skateboarding: 18 years.

What is special about the skate scene in Malmö?: The ability to take advantage of opportunities and the dedication to make your dreams come true.

Occupation: Film Maker.

1. WTF, Malmö.

2. Simon Andersson, Johannes Packalén Roseberg.

3. Tösabidarna, Sibbarp, Malmö.

4. Lina Norrlander, Gastelyckan, Lund.

Name: Sarah Meurle From: Malmö/Blentarp Years involved in skateboarding: 10 years Occupation: Skateboarder, Photographer, Shop assistant.

What is special about the skate scene in Malmö?: There streets are not filled with perfect skatespots painted in gold but there is so much creativity and dedicated skateboarders in this scene that has kept skateboarding alive and growing. Whether it’s a new concrete park in the neighbour city or a D.I.Y spot some friends built all by themselves. There is movement.

1. Original Steppe side.

Name: Pontus Alv From: Malmö

1.Movie stills from Coping Mechanism - a Phil Evans movie about the skate scene in Malmö.

What is special about the skate scene in Malmö?: The Malmö skate scene is unique in many ways for me, its the most active and productive scene I know with the widest range of skaters involved, each group with its own style but all tied together with a healthy work rate that keeps the scene active and interesting. Despite its growth and increased accessibility it has still somehow managed to retain its integrity with notable absences such as modular parks and hyper extreme branded events. The older skaters don’t fall into the traditional path of a “fair weather skater”, instead they keep the stoke active and their energy is pumped into the growth of the scene where a range of characters have worked together to form a place where the spirit of skateboarding is not just alive but thriving.

Years involved in skateboarding: 26 years Occupation: Skateboard pro & owner of Polar Skate Co. Film maker, designer, photographer, illustrator, artist, team manager, art director, skateboard park designer.

What is special about the skate scene in Malmö?

A scene driven by passion, love and dedication to skateboarding and its culture. Given all for the sake of a better place to ride & live.

1. John Cardiel, Sibbarp, Malmö.

2. Rick McCrank, nosepick, Steppe Side, Malmö.

3. Alex Olson, boardslide, Malmö.

4. Eric Koston, TBS, Malmö.

5. Robbie Russo, bs crailslide, Sibbarp, Malmö.

6. Vincent Alvarez, fs stalefish, Sihharp, Malmö.

Name: Gabe Morford From: San Francisco/San Anselmo California

Name: Peter Liedberg From: Malmö Years involved in skateboarding: 18 years Occupation: Graphic designer What is special about the skate scene in Malmö?

There are a few things that are special about the Malmö scene. Even though there are a lot of crews and people who hang out and skate on their own, there is still a good atmosphere between all the crews. And also, Malmö has got some extremely passionate skateboarders who work very hard for the scene to stay interesting and exciting.

Without them we wouldn’t have all the skateparks, miniramps, competitions, exhibitions and DIY spots.

Years involved in skateboarding: 30+ Name: Mike O’Shea From: Bristol, UK Years involved in skateboarding: 14 years doing tricks, But i used to ride on my knees and butt when i was 6. I guess that also counts right.

Occupation: Artist What is special about the skate scene in Malmö?

There are a lot of different types of people that skate here, such as Kids, Clean cut guys, hesh guys, girls, women, babies, grannies and grandpas, cats, and dogs. You name it, Everyone skates here.

Occupation: Photographer What is special about the skate scene in Malmö?: As an outsider with limited time spent in Malmo it would be hard to form a balanced opinion. But camping at one of a couple of skateparks, street skating some great spots and numerous hand made/ DIY I would say that Malmö has it going on.

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