Haroshi Transforms Salvaged Skateboards Into Sculptures That Pay Tribute to Skateboarders

Japanese artist <a href="http://haroshi.com/artworks/">Haroshi</a> has honed his expert carving skills and created a body of work from <a href="http://www.ecouterre.com/mukee-recycles-broken-skateboards-into-edgy-wooden-jewelry/" target="_blank">repurposed skateboards</a>. In a collaboration with <a href="http://www.hufworldwide.com" target="_blank">HUF</a> skateboards and Bay Area-based skateboard distributor <a href="http://www.dlxsf.com/" target="_blank">DLX Distribution</a> the artist creates smooth sculptures from colorful stacks of old boards. The beautiful sculptures combine the integrity of all three partners and transform cast off decks into high quality art.

Haroshi was sent hundreds of the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/sweet-recycled-skateboard-bottle-openers-from-deckstool/" target="_blank">salvaged used decks</a> by DLX. Each was donated by specific DLX sponsored riders, a relationship that Haroshi takes to heart.

Believing that each athlete is intrinsically connected to the boards he rides, the artist sought to create individual sculptures that captured the spirit if <a href="http://inhabitat.com/new-soma-skatepark-will-revitalize-san-franciscos-mission-district/" target="_blank">each individual rider</a>.

The <a href="http://inhabitat.com/henrique-oliveiras-powerful-recycled-wood-tridimensional-sculptures-burst-through-gallery-walls/" target="_blank">resulting sculpture</a>s are ordinary objects in a myriad of colors. An actual sized fire hydrant, complete with nuts and bolts, boldly stands out with the colored patchwork of used boards.

Another sculpture is a tattooed arm extending its middle finger- the layers of skateboards still apparent, but polished to a glossy sheen. One rider’s rock and roll spirit is captured with a striped guitar, and another is cut away to reveal a dog’s face in apparent movement, with the edges of the deck radiating from its head. Two other riders are embodied with <a href="http://inhabitat.com/pas-skate-house-an-eco-home-where-you-can-skateboard-on-any-surface/" target="_blank">skate decks</a>, as Haroshi created an intricately carved giant deck, and an oversized wheel, which uses the striped edges of its salvaged materials in its design.

Haroshi begins by stripping the used decks of their grip tape, then gluing them in stacks, to create a new foundation to crave from.

The layers are then carved away with a jig saw, highly polished, then <a href="http://inhabitat.com/art-of-board-shows-off-its-skate-decks-repurposed-into-rad-wall-tiles-at-icff/" target="_blank">given new life as his series of rainbow sculptures</a>.