Skateboarding is a big deal in Japan and like most skateboarders in the world, Japanese artist Haroshi had a pile of broken decks lying around. Too attached to the boards to toss them in the trash, he collected his boards and unless he breaks a few boards a week the ones of his community and turned them into sculptures and accessories such as necklaces and key chains.
Rody Horse toy homage.
From the website:
Skate decks eventually see its life shortened by snapping, cracking and/or wearing out. Purchasing new decks is a never ending cycle and this was evident by the tower of old decks that were reaching to the ceiling of my room. We can’t throw away these decks because they hold sentimental meanings to us. I looked at these unusable decks every day and thought there must be something I can make with these.
I decided to make some accessories with the old decks and this was the birth of Harvest. The works of Harvest are through the perspectives of a skater and as an artist. As a skater, I want to take responsibility of reusing skateboards when they were no longer useable. Also, as an artist I want to explore the possibilities of what can be done with skateboards.
We see the care and effort that a skater can have for his/her deck and we also acknowledge the origins of a skateboard. We believe that if the small things we do can connect to sustainability then we’re doing something right. We’d be satisfied in our effort when people look at products and start thinking of ways to recycle.
For now it looks like everything is only available in Japan, but you can get your recycled skateboard jewelry fix over at MapleXO.
8 comments
Lindsay Jo
Thanks for the link! I was just admiring this artwork the other day when I saw it online. How amazing! It’s so rad to see all the different things that can come from a broken skateboard… xoxo!
kilwag
I’m also wondering how he gets the decks to fit together so well.
Bevilacqua
The “broken leg” rings a bell for anyone who suffered from a broken shinbone. (skateboarding or not)
van der ouderaa michel
Amazing and beautiful !
I’m also into recycling boards, but this work deserve respect, for sure!
Also would like to see a pic from the side, cause the problem probably remains to glue the boards well tight,
naturally not to mention the craftsmanship.
congratulation!
JKp
Bike fork made from a skateboard? Thats got to be some sort of statement, don”t know what though.
Talentlessquitter
Reminds me of that Gibson SG from last year.
Nice Bod Boyle deck.
Bevilacqua
I was just having a look at his recent creations this morning – the broken leg is stunning – as well as the skulls or hands.
Though you have not chosen the pic exposing the side, half-human leg, half-deck (blue taint).
Nice attention !
kilwag
My kids have one of those horses, or mules, or whatever they are. An inflatable one, not a wooden one.