ai weiwei designs skateboard decks for the sk8room

ai weiwei is the latest to join the line-up of artists–belgian artist ROA and berlin-based artist andy hope 1930–who have collaborated with sk8room, a platform dedicated solely to the production of art, promotion and sales on skateboards. the chinese contemporary artist has conceived three graphics for the belgian company’s decks whose designs feature imagery that recall his large installation works such as ‘sunflower seeds’ and ‘he xie’ (his work of 3,200 porcelain crabs); with expressions like ‘there are no outdoor sports as graceful as throwing stones at a dictatorship in the world‘ printed on them.

the boards are adorned with imagery recalling the artist’s major installation works

ai weiwei’s designs are now available through sk8room‘s online shop, 20% of all of skateboard sales going towards skateistan; a non-profit NGO that works with youth from a range of ethnicities and socio-economic backgrounds, building trust and providing empowerment and skills through a combination of skateboarding and educational activities.

ai weiwei‘s three boards are also presently on show at the sk8room gallery shop in brussels.

ai weiwei’s three decks for sk8room

installation view of ai weiwei’s decks on show at sk8room in brussels, the floor covered in 25 kg of sunflower seeds