Skate the World: the Mimesis & Anti-Mimesis of Board Artist Luz de Boer
A Weird Little Interview With Skateboard, Snowboard & Surf Deck Artist Luz de Boer
Nebulae, sun rays, and arctic sea ice. Cosmic craters, island formations, and the ocean. The Universe in general. Such are the things that inspire the WetDeck creations of Dutch artist Luz de Boer.
As someone who takes old skate, snowboard, and surf decks, and gives them second lives through bursts, swirls, and plumes of crystal resin, the reasons we heart Luz are manifold. Thinking about de Boer’s colorful work, and about anti-mimesis (life imitating art) in juxtaposition to mimesis (art imitating life), we find a cross-section of the two. We move away from an either-or, and gravitate towards a both-and-neither. Because: ’tis life.
I digress. Sort of.
This is Luz de Boer. She’s Rad.
After creeping on Luz through her IG, and subsequently sending her an email, she agreed to answer a few questions. You’ll find her awesome responses to our, as she put it, “unusual interview,” as well as a handful of her WetDecks below. Thanks, Luz, for giving us a few minutes from one of your days.
Intergalactic WetDecks by Luz de Boer
Us: How is it that you have come to breathe?
Luz: When I had to make it on my own.
Us: In which ocean has your heart landed and how did it get there?
Luz: It's usually circulating around the volcanic islands of Indonesia and the Canary Islands, and sometimes washes up on the Barcelona coastline. This summer, it will be in the Aegean sea.
Luz de Boer, a Dutch artist who currently lives in Barcelona, uses crystal resin to inject life into old snowboard, skate, and surf decks.
Us: How will you let it be different every time?
Luz: Never closing my eyes to curiosity and feeding the ache of exploration.
Us: What does underwater smell like?
Luz: You can smell it from a distance, and it makes you long to be in it - but once you're there, it's not tangible. Much like freedom or happiness.
Us: What value do you place on winter?
Luz: Escape at all costs, unless you can ride it. It means I have to pause painting, as that's an outdoor pursuit both for space and light reasons, as well as the paint fumes!
Us: What does it mean to be made in the image of the Universe?
Luz: We are all the universe. My most recent collection of space boards 'Cosmic Wetdecks' explores this fascination and feeling deeper.
Us:Where do you go when you cannot move?
Luz: Into gratitude, or a good book (usually SciFi).
Luz de Boer, with WetDeck in hand. We heart this.
Us: What is the sex of your language?
Luz: Being has no gender.
Us: What do you remember about tomorrow?
Luz: To enjoy today, and that everything will be fine. It's all one big game.
Luz in process.
Us: What is the meaning of the color of your eyes?
Luz: Multifaceted green with a copper ring - eyes are like galaxies. They mean the unknown.
Us: What are the consequences?
Luz: Reaching a higher level and peeking beyond the veil.
Us: Who told you it was ok?
Luz: A voiceless instinct.
Us: Where is your impetus?
Luz: In the ocean, in wild spaces and with the stars.
Us: How will you continue?
Luz: By prioritizing self-exploration. With art, I hope to see my boards hanging on walls around the world - and to one day own a beach house with a big garden to paint year-round and hang my surfboards around me. I have about seven snowboards to paint for a winter collection, I can't wait to find a place to work on them!
For more, check out de Boer’s Instagram or WetDecks website.