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 moving units
 to access audio and video on collective you need real player.Skateboarding goes legit on London’s South Bank. Moving Units is the latest exhibition from London collective, The Side Effects Of Urethane. Although, calling Moving Units an exhibition underestimates the breadth and depth of events that are filling the capital this month. Their work is blowing up all conceptions of skating, art and the city. Quite simply, it rocks.One of the central organizers behind the show, Richard Holland, describes the group as “a dynamic collective working and living in London, whose sole purpose is to explore and promote the symbiotic relationship between skateboarding and art/photography/design/architecture.” The show reflects this diversity. Events include a gallery filled with work exploring the relationship between skateboarding and architecture, and the launch of the unmissable documentary of British skateboard culture, Rollin’ Through The Decades, at the NFT.  Abduction by Ged Wells & a skateable sculpture by Rich Holland The most surprising part of this month’s events is that the collective has worked together with London’s South Bank – notorious for their terrible anti-skate architectural amendments over the past 20 years – to install five interactive abstract Skateable Sculptures, designed by artists and skaters at the Queen Elizabeth Hall undercroft. It’s a sign that skateboarding is no longer being seen as the pastime of troubled youth, but is in itself a creative process.  Overview by Jethero Hayne & Skeleton vs Robots by Will Sweeney “Skateboarding is creative,” says Richard Holland. “Most physical sports are about winning, skateboarding is not. It makes you try harder as it needs a lot of dedication and talent. I think more people need to understand that skateboarding is more than just a physical activity, but a form of creativity that grows from the environment it exists in. Just like any form of creativity.  Images by Toby Shuall & Benjamin Deberdt “Just like art, each person has a unique style and view on tricks. You could take 50 skaters to the same place to skate, and each one would do something different in their own style,” Rich explains. The British Council are also helping to tour the show to Barcelona and Rotterdam.
Francesca Gavin
Moving Units – The Side Effects Of Urethane is at various venues around London, 06–22 Aug 04.
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