“Anti-Skateboarding Devices Slideshow” – marcvallee.co.uk

Towards the end of 2011 I started to document anti-skateboarding devices and architecture. These devices are deployed by private corporations and local authorities with the aim to reshape individual and group behaviour. The motivation is to discourage skateboarders from using a particular public or semi public space.

This slideshow is an edit of the project so far with some quotes from academics Mike Davis and Iain Borden to give context.

You can also listen to me here debating anti-skateboarding devices, architecture and the privatisation of public space at the Defence of the Public Realm event held in June 2012. The debate was part of the London Festival of Architecture.

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – 01.04.12. Anti-skateboarding devices on the Spitalfields Estate on Sunday 1 April 2012 in London, England. Anti-skateboarding devices are deployed by private corporations and local authorities. The aim is to reshape individual and group behavior and discourage skateboarders from using a particular public or semi public space. (Photo by Marc Vallée/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallée, 2012. All rights reserved.

Media Release: Defence of the Public Realm (PDF)

Media Release: Defence of the Public Realm. 6pm, Monday 25th June 2012. The Great Hall, Bishopsgate Institute, 230 Bishopsgate, London, EC2M 4QH.

As London prepares to host the Olympic Games, military and security forces are being mobilized on a scale not seen since the Second World War. Our freedom to move through our city spaces will be monitored and restricted during this time.

Local authorities are selling off record amounts of parks, playing fields and allotments to the private sector. Does the privatisation of our public spaces together with arbitrary restrictions and controls – backed up with state of the art monitoring systems – constitute a threat to individual liberty, and does it also reveal a fundamental democratic deficit for society as a whole?

What is the reason for this tight control of the public realm, and how does it affect our freedom of expression, or that of the photographer, artist, protester, skateboarder, graffiti artist or rough sleeper? You?

The Speakers

Andrew Altman, Chief Executive, Olympic Park Legacy Company Limited.

Iain Borden, Professor of Architecture and Urban Culture at the Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL and author of Skateboarding Space and the City: Architecture and the Body.

Anna Minton, writer and journalist. Author of Ground Control.

Robin Priestley, skateboarder and founding member of the Space Hijackers.

Anna Strongman, Project Director at Argent Group, working on Estate Management at King’s Cross Group.

Marc Vallée, documentary photographer whose work covers the London graffiti scene, anti-skateboarding architecture and political dissent.

Olly Zanetti, writer and journalist specialising in environmental issues, urbanism and political cultures.

Notes to editors.

“Defence of the Public Realm” – defenceofthepublicrealm.com

“London Festival of Architecture 2012″ – lfa2012.org

“Facebook Event” – facebook.com

Defence of the Public Realm is a free public event: 6pm, Monday 25th June 2012. The Great Hall, Bishopsgate Institute, 230 Bishopsgate, London, EC2M 4QH. The event will be.

The event is organised and hosted by Grant Smith, Jonathan Warren and Marc Vallée. With support from INGMEDIA.

Contact:
Grant Smith: grant@grant-smith.com
Marc Vallée: marc@marcvallee.co.uk

Over the last month or so I have been helping to pull together this event which is part of the London Festival of Architecture 2012. The list of speakers is strong plus we have a great venue. Please repost and link like crazy!

“Defence of the Public Realm” – defenceofthepublicrealm.com

“London Festival of Architecture 2012″ – lfa2012.org

“Facebook Event” – facebook.com

The privatisation of our public spaces along with arbitrary restrictions and controls – backed up with state of the art monitoring systems – is not only a threat to individual liberty, it also reveals a fundamental democratic deficit for society as a whole.

Who controls the ‘public’ realm? In whose name and for what purpose is this space used? Why is the protester, photographer, skateboarder, rough sleeper and graffiti writer demonised and excluded?

Why are local authorities selling off record amounts of parks, playing fields and allotments to the private sector with little or no oversight from communities and local people?

During the Olympic Games, the biggest mobilisation of military and security forces since the Second World War is to be implemented. How will our freedom to move through and engage in these spaces be monitored and restricted during this time?

The Speakers

Andrew Altman, Chief Executive, Olympic Park Legacy Company Limited.

Iain Borden, Professor of Architecture and Urban Culture at the Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL and author of Skateboarding Space and the City: Architecture and the Body.

Anna Minton, writer and journalist. Author of Ground Control.

Robin Priestley, skateboarder and founding member of the Space Hijackers.

Anna Strongman, Project Director at Argent Group, working on Estate Management at King’s Cross Group.

Marc Vallée, documentary photographer whose work covers the London graffiti scene, anti-skateboarding architecture and political dissent.

Olly Zanetti, writer and journalist specialising in environmental issues, urbanism and political cultures.

Join the debate and come to Defence of the Public Realm free public event: 6pm, Monday 25th June 2012 at the Great Hall, Bishopsgate Institute, 230 Bishopsgate, London, EC2M 4QH.

The event will be chaired by Grant Smith, the acclaimed architectural photographer. Event organised and hosted by Grant Smith, Jonathan Warren and Marc Vallée. With support from INGMEDIA.

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – 11.03.12. Anti-skateboarding devices near City Hall on Sunday 11 March 2012 in London, England. Anti-skateboarding devices are deployed by private corporations and local authorities. The aim is to reshape individual and group behavior and discourage skateboarders from using a particular public or semi public space. (Photo by Marc Vallée/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallée, 2012. All rights reserved.

“Skateboarders are essential for our cities” – The Independent.

Link: Click here to view more pictures.

Clients: Pictures are available for rights managed editorial licensing. High resolution images are available on request.

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – 11.03.12. Anti-skateboarding device and sign near City Hall on Sunday 11 March 2012 in London, England. Anti-skateboarding devices are deployed by private corporations and local authorities. The aim is to reshape individual and group behavior and discourage skateboarders from using a particular public or semi public space. (Photo by Marc Vallée/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallée, 2012. All rights reserved.

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – 11.03.12. Anti-skateboarding devices near City Hall on Sunday 11 March 2012 in London, England. Anti-skateboarding devices are deployed by private corporations and local authorities. The aim is to reshape individual and group behavior and discourage skateboarders from using a particular public or semi public space. (Photo by Marc Vallée/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallée, 2012. All rights reserved.