Reykjavík Grapevine - 04.07.2008, Blaðsíða 10

10 | REYKJAVÍK GRAPEVINE | ISSUE 09—2008
DESIGN By oddur SturluSon — pHoto By gaSfASHION By rvk lookS
Described by Mark Gonzales as a way
to conquer boredom, skateboarding has
saved many Icelanders from the blues,
which inevitably follow island living. Al-
though some only dabble and many leave
the scene without ever having had any
real effect or influence, there are those
whose tenacity and dedication have kept
skateboarding alive and well. They have
inspired younger skateboarders to keep
honing their skills and helped skateboard-
ing become the established hobby, lifestyle
and art form that it is today.
As one of the few sports that endorses individual strength
and independence, skating has had a profound and often un-
derestimated influence on fashion and art. Four skateboard
enthusiasts have recently gained recognition in the Icelandic
skate scene for their custom made skateboards: Lucas, Bal-
dur, Sara and Siggi.
Lucas Quesnel Keller is a Californian who has lived in
Iceland for about a year. An aspiring chef as well as artist,
Lucas has been skating for more than a decade and is rec-
ognised as one of the more talented skaters in the country.
He renovates and repaints used boards and has exhibited
his boards as well as other artwork at Café Hljómalind on
Laugavegur. He has also designed T-Shirts but appreciates
the board as a canvas more, both due to its unique shape as
well as the “personality” it acquires through use.
Sigurður Júlíus Bjarnason, who some deem to be the
best skater that Iceland has ever had, is known for his ‘Kanns-
ki’ boards which sport the colours of the Icelandic flag. His
boards are still very rare and will most likely continue to be
so due to the fact that they simply beg to be skated to shreds.
Siggi's boards simply look best when they're being used.
Graphic designer and musician Baldur Björnsson is an
avid board enthusiast and designs longboards. Although
he originally only designed boards as personal gifts, he is
now planning experimental projects focused on the creation
and design of both long and freestyle skateboards, including
what he described as being “the ugliest, comfiest board in
the world”.
Sara is an artist who has utilised used boards, although they
serve a more aesthetic purpose than practical. Although not
a hardcore skater herself, her work is heavily influenced by
the skaters she's known for many years.
‘Amma’ skateboards also supposedly have a project in
the pipeline but have yet to release anything. They've stated
that once ready (which will hopefully be soon), their boards
will be available at the newly opened Reykjavík Skate-Shop,
which is situated at Ingólfstorg square where Underground
used to be. Lucas has shown his boards at Kaffi Hljóma-
lind but now keeps them in Noland, another newly opened
skate-shop on Laugavegur. Siggi, Baldur and Sara have all
displayed their boards at Belleville, the premiere skateboard
enthusiast's shop in Reykjavík. These three stores are the
places to go if you're searching for Icelandic skate design or
info on the Icelandic skate scene.
skateboard art provides instants of visual pleasure.
Icelandic Skateboard Design
Reykjavik Looks,
Apparently
Way cooler than aluminium production
SkATE-SHOPS IN REYkjAVík
Belleville, Laugavegur 55
www.myspace.com/belle_ville
Noland, Laugavegur 32
www.myspace.com/nolandrvk
Reykjavík Skate-Shop, at Ingólfstorg square.
www.myspace.com/ingo101
Brim, Laugavegur 71
www.brim.is
NAME
Gunnhildur Melsteð
AGE
22
OCCuPATION
Student
fAVOuRITE VINTAGE SHOP
Spúútnik
NAME
Ragnhildur Weisshapel
AGE
18
OCCuPATION
Student
MOST fREquENTED SHOP
Kolaportið
NAME
Nína Óskarsdóttir
AGE
21
OCCuPATION
Student
ON ICELANDIC fASHION
“Icelanders are original and very
open in relation to fashion.”
aS one oF tHe FeW SportS tHat endorSeS
individual StrengtH and independence,
Skating HaS Had a proFound and oFten un-
dereStiMated inFluence on FaSHion and art.
When you walk down Laugarvegur, it’s hard to miss the recent outbreak in hipster
clothing. You’re no longer welcome in the VIP lines in front of Kaffibarinn and
Boston, no matter how famous or cool you are, if you don’t boast of design cloth-
ing such as Wood Wood, Henrik Vibskov or B.
Infamous French street photographer Facehunter noticed this few years back
and so he made his appearance at Icelandic Airwaves in 2006 and caught this
newfound style prodigy of Reykjavik on film. The founder of Reykjaviklooks.blog-
spot.com (soon to be reykjaviklooks.net), Elísabet, followed his work in 2006 and
it aroused her interest.
Her dream of establishing a street fashion site of her own soon became reality
and she offered Saga a partnership because of her alleged photographing eligibil-
ity. This summer they operate their successful site with a grant from HittHúsið. A
lot of foreign media has offered them publishing space but they chose to let us at
Reykjavik Grapevine follow them this summer and every issue will contain some
of their most recent photos.