Chinese artist Ai Weiwei has recently collaborated with Sk8room to produce a range of high-end skate decks. Each of these skate decks is priced at $1,013.
Sk8room has collaborated with other artists in the past including KAWS, Jeff Koons and NIGO. The Ai Weiwei collection features imagery of some of Weiwei's most popular installations: sunflower seeds and ceramic crabs. Each piece of artwork is also accompanied with a statement that helps to explain the motive behind each piece. The first 25 boards come with a certificate hand-signed by Weiwei. There will be a limit of 150 production pieces and 20% of the decks' proceeds go to Skateistan (a non-profit NGO geared toward youth education and skateboarding).
These hand design pieces -- while fully functional -- should certainly be treated as collector pieces.
Luxe Skateboard Decks
The Ai Weiwei Sk8room 2013 Skateboards are a Work of Functional Art
Trend Themes
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High-end Skate Decks — The collaboration between Sk8room and Ai Weiwei showcases a trend of producing luxury skate decks with intricate designs.
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Artistic Collaborations — Sk8room's previous collaborations with renowned artists like KAWS, Jeff Koons, and NIGO indicate a trend of partnering with artists to create unique skateboard designs.
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Skateboarding for Social Causes — The proceeds from the Ai Weiwei skate decks going to Skateistan highlight a trend of using skateboarding as a means to support non-profit organizations focused on youth education.
Industry Implications
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Luxury Retail — The production of high-end skate decks by Sk8room and Ai Weiwei creates a disruptive innovation opportunity in the luxury retail industry, offering skateboard collectors a unique and valuable product.
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Art and Design — The collaborations between Sk8room and renowned artists present an opportunity for the art and design industry to explore new avenues for artistic expression through functional pieces like skateboard decks.
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Non-profit and Education — Skateboarding's role in supporting organizations like Skateistan shows the potential for disruption in the non-profit and education sectors, utilizing alternative activities to engage and empower young individuals.