Jarrad Belton, Skateboard Box (RECYCLED & RESCUED 2023)

Photos:

Jarrad Belton

Country:

United Kingdom (Great Britain)

This keepsake box is made from recycled skateboard; a resource that is widely available yet seemingly underutilized. Skateboards are items that appear to be disposable, some skaters replace their boards just months after use due to the ply losing its spring. The ply used in skateboards is very aesthetically pleasing and typically made from thin layers of maple, usually stained with bright colours. I think the material should be given a second life in any way possible after its initial use, as it produces some really interesting patterns and cross sections as well as being remarkably stable and strong. The exterior box is inspired by the headwear of a samurai and also Japanese architecture. The interior box has a diagonal, sliding dovetail to create the illusion of impossible joinery. This ensures anything held in the box stays hidden. My overall goal for this piece is to raise awareness of what is possible from things that would usually be disregarded or thrown away. This sort of recycling is a crucial step in utilizing what would otherwise be added to landfill.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.