Shanghai House of Vans 2014 Recap

Following the unveiling of London’s House of Vans last month, the latest chapter sees Vans kick off House of Vans Asia with its first stop in Shanghai. Embracing the longstanding skateboarding label’s commitment to creativity, the three-day event showcased talents both local and international, strung together by workshops and showcases from the realms of art, music, film and of course skateboarding. During the day at Central Studios, attendees were treated to ‘zine and documentary-making sessions under the guidance of filmmaker Angela Boatwright, pioneering skateboard videographer Tobin Yelland and seminal figure of zine culture Clint Woodside. These workshops provided a chance for locals to explore art from an angle rarely touched upon. Partaking as photojournalists and budding publishers, students utilized photography and film alongside the help of cut & paste techniques and the photocopier to create unique works inspired by their own surroundings. Elsewhere, screen-printing duo Idle Beats offered a step-by-step guide to printing artwork and T-shirts, while artists Rich Jacobs, Panda Mei and Lin Wen Xin took to the walls with bold illustrations. As for music, Seattle duo THEESatisfaction played alongside a multi-genre bill. Korean modern folk outfit Jambinai showed off their deft blend of Chinese instruments and post-rock riffs, while Montreal indie rockers We Are Wolves cranked up the tunes for the dance floor. Celebrating Shanghai’s skateboarding community, Vans invited the entire Shanghai skate community to attend the premier of Wish You Were Here — a documentary contest which featured video production from 10 skate shops across China.

As day turned to dusk, live performances took stage at Arkam, headed by the likes of electroclash producer Peaches, Los Angeles punk outfit Corrupted Youth, Pro Era’s own Joey Bada$$. Regional acts like Beijing hardcore group Twisted Machine, DJ Monk and reggae sensation Far East Lion provided examples of China’s own growing creative scene, while Vedett and Hunter Gatherer took care of food and beverages. Shot by Benoit Florencon, check out the recap images above and stay tuned for the upcoming House of Vans this weekend in Seoul. For more information head to House of Vans Asia.