The exhibition explores the design culture of skateboarding within Hungary's female skate community (Girlsk8sessions) while observing the ways of representation of women in the male-dominated skate scene.
WE CAN SKATE IT!
17. 06. – 07. 07. 2022, TELEP Gallery, Budapest
CURATORS: Kitti MAYER, Noémi VISKI
CONTRIBUTORS: Dóra GRABECZ-HORVÁTH, Marianna HERCZEG,
skateboarders of Girlsk8sessions (Bogár CSANÁDY, Blanka GERLÓCZY,
Kinga GERLÓCZY, Csengele HORN-BARTA, Betti IGNÁCZ, Fanni KONDA,
Jonka MÁRKI, Laura NETLAVA)
SPONSORS: Vans, Cirus Skateboard
EXHIBITED PHOTOS (PORTRAITS AND BW PHOTOS): Balázs MOHAI
GRAPHIC DESIGN: Gergő ZÁMBÓ
VIDEO: Ádám HAJNAL
EXHIBITION DOCUMENTATION PHOTOS: Lilla LISZKAY
Women have been present in skateboarding since the beginning of the sport (or lifestyle, as others may refer to it), yet they have remained underrepresented in the industry for decades. The decline of skate parks in the 80s and how skateboarding has transformed into a street activity did not help them either. Social and cultural conventions suggested that a woman’s place is not on the street, especially if the activity she is doing is dangerous and illegal. Due to these circumstances, they have been on the periphery for a long time.
Skateboarding as a sport has evolved significantly over the past decade. Thanks to this, the position of women within the skateboarding community and industry has changed for the better: competition organizers, sponsors, brands, and the media have started to give more and more attention to female skateboarders. Meanwhile, skate sessions organized specially for women and girls also have begun to appear around the world. In Hungary, the first such event was held in the summer of 2021 and attracted more girls than even the organizers expected. On that day, Girlsk8sessions Hungary was founded.
Women have been present in skateboarding since the beginning of the sport (or lifestyle, as others may refer to it), yet they have remained underrepresented in the industry for decades. The decline of skate parks in the 80s and how skateboarding has transformed into a street activity did not help them either. Social and cultural conventions suggested that a woman’s place is not on the street, especially if the activity she is doing is dangerous and illegal. Due to these circumstances, they have been on the periphery for a long time.
Skateboarding as a sport has evolved significantly over the past decade. Thanks to this, the position of women within the skateboarding community and industry has changed for the better: competition organizers, sponsors, brands, and the media have started to give more and more attention to female skateboarders. Meanwhile, skate sessions organized specially for women and girls also have begun to appear around the world. In Hungary, the first such event was held in the summer of 2021 and attracted more girls than even the organizers expected. On that day, Girlsk8sessions Hungary was founded.
Women have been present in skateboarding since the beginning of the sport (or lifestyle, as others may refer to it), yet they have remained underrepresented in the industry for decades. The decline of skate parks in the 80s and how skateboarding has transformed into a street activity did not help them either. Social and cultural conventions suggested that a woman’s place is not on the street, especially if the activity she is doing is dangerous and illegal. Due to these circumstances, they have been on the periphery for a long time.
Skateboarding as a sport has evolved significantly over the past decade. Thanks to this, the position of women within the skateboarding community and industry has changed for the better: competition organizers, sponsors, brands, and the media have started to give more and more attention to female skateboarders. Meanwhile, skate sessions organized specially for women and girls also have begun to appear around the world. In Hungary, the first such event was held in the summer of 2021 and attracted more girls than even the organizers expected. On that day, Girlsk8sessions Hungary was founded.
Since skateboarding has been embedded into the collective unconscious as a male-dominated industry, it is increasingly harder for women and members of the LGBTQ community to get involved. The girls-only sessions aim to make it easier and provide a space where participants can motivate each other, build community, practice, and become more confident on and off the skate parks. Although many riders around the world consider skateboarding as a community-building and liberating activity, the way female skateboarding could be represented differs from culture to culture. In many Afghan communities, where women are not even allowed to ride bicycles, skateboarding has become a symbol of learning, freedom, and empowerment (thanks to the nonprofit organization Skateistan) although it is still only accessible to a minority.
At the same time, however, the world’s leading professional female skateboarders have appeared on social media as influencers, where they have the opportunity to promote women’s skateboarding to millions. WE CAN SKATE IT! aims to give visibility to the Hungarian women’s skateboarding communities and to show the cultural aspects of social
inequalities within the subculture.
Since skateboarding has been embedded into the collective unconscious as a male-dominated industry, it is increasingly harder for women and members of the LGBTQ community to get involved. The girls-only sessions aim to make it easier and provide a space where participants can motivate each other, build community, practice, and become more confident on and off the skate parks. Although many riders around the world consider skateboarding as a community-building and liberating activity, the way female skateboarding could be represented differs from culture to culture. In many Afghan communities, where women are not even allowed to ride bicycles, skateboarding has become a symbol of learning, freedom, and empowerment (thanks to the nonprofit organization Skateistan) although it is still only accessible to a minority.
At the same time, however, the world’s leading professional female skateboarders have appeared on social media as influencers, where they have the opportunity to promote women’s skateboarding to millions. WE CAN SKATE IT! aims to give visibility to the Hungarian women’s skateboarding communities and to show the cultural aspects of social
inequalities within the subculture.
Since skateboarding has been embedded into the collective unconscious as a male-dominated industry, it is increasingly harder for women and members of the LGBTQ community to get involved. The girls-only sessions aim to make it easier and provide a space where participants can motivate each other, build community, practice, and become more confident on and off the skate parks. Although many riders around the world consider skateboarding as a community-building and liberating activity, the way female skateboarding could be represented differs from culture to culture. In many Afghan communities, where women are not even allowed to ride bicycles, skateboarding has become a symbol of learning, freedom, and empowerment (thanks to the nonprofit organization Skateistan) although it is still only accessible to a minority.
At the same time, however, the world’s leading professional female skateboarders have appeared on social media as influencers, where they have the opportunity to promote women’s skateboarding to millions. WE CAN SKATE IT! aims to give visibility to the Hungarian women’s skateboarding communities and to show the cultural aspects of social
inequalities within the subculture.
PHOTO BY BALÁZS MOHAI
PHOTO BY BALÁZS MOHAI
PHOTO BY BALÁZS MOHAI
PHOTO BY BALÁZS MOHAI
PHOTO BY BALÁZS MOHAI
PHOTO BY BALÁZS MOHAI
What media coverage have female skateboarders received until the early 2000s, and what changes did social media bring to this? How do different global brands respond to the under-representation of women within the industry? How can an object, logo, or advertising campaign contribute to community visibility? With photography, video, and objects the exhibition seeks to bring us closer to the understanding of the subculture by presenting personal stories of Girlsk8sessions members and global issues affecting women’s skateboarding.
As part of the project, sponsored by VANS, a video interview was created featuring the members of Girlsk8sessions, produced by Ádám Hajnal.
What media coverage have female skateboarders received until the early 2000s, and what changes did social media bring to this? How do different global brands respond to the under-representation of women within the industry? How can an object, logo, or advertising campaign contribute to community visibility? With photography, video, and objects the exhibition seeks to bring us closer to the understanding of the subculture by presenting personal stories of Girlsk8sessions members and global issues affecting women’s skateboarding.
As part of the project, sponsored by VANS, a video interview was created featuring the members of Girlsk8sessions, produced by Ádám Hajnal.
What media coverage have female skateboarders received until the early 2000s, and what changes did social media bring to this? How do different global brands respond to the under-representation of women within the industry? How can an object, logo, or advertising campaign contribute to community visibility? With photography, video, and objects the exhibition seeks to bring us closer to the understanding of the subculture by presenting personal stories of Girlsk8sessions members and global issues affecting women’s skateboarding.
As part of the project, sponsored by VANS, a video interview was created featuring the members of Girlsk8sessions, produced by Ádám Hajnal.
