Forde is a skater and filmmaker based in Sheffield

 

I think the relationship between skateboarding and art is on a fine line.

 

When skateboarding originated although it wasn’t seen as art it was a way of expression for many people.

 

Respectfully, you get a tonne of people who don’t see skateboarding as an art or even cross the line between skateboarding and art which is cool – but I certainly would say that skateboarding has given me a bit on an insight into art; be it actually making something physical, or generally just being appreciative. I don’t tend to do much art myself although I guess a lot of people would class filming and editing as an art form within skateboarding itself.

 

Pontus Alv (polarskateco) has a very particular way of editing videos which certainly breaks the “norm” of what a standardised skateboarding video looks like. People like Takahiro Morita (fareastskatenetwork) and Shinpei Ueno (tightboothproduction) from Japan inspire me a lot, but again it doesn’t make me want to go out and create something similar to what they did.

 

But I guess that’s how a creative thought process works – not by mimicking but by adapting with progression. I guess it’s pretty obvious in Baghead Kills II that I’d taken a lot of inspiration from Heroin Skateboards and deathskateboards ; purely because of their aesthetics with direction and graphics, as well as videos they’ve produced over the years

Plus, Fos and Nick Zorlac are fucking sick!

 

Anything that connects groups or individuals is always beneficial. With the decline of skateboarding stores, parks and now magazines and websites; it’s good that we still have something to fall back on and appreciate.

 

With the rise of social media and platforms over the last ten or so years, it’s bought the community together. No Comply is good as skaters who focus
heavily on art and music can be involved and see all the right people.