NoComply: Somerset House’s Exhibit Dedicated to 45 Years of UK Skating

Opposite the infamous Southbank Skatepark in the heart of London at Somerset House an interesting one for the skate lovers, kicking off on the 19th July. NoComply, an exhibit based on the last 45 years of skate history in the UK. Luckily for you guys, it's free and running until 19th September. The nostalgic aura entering the exhibit hits hard, filled with photography, film, art and fashion, which tells a story of the evolution of the skate scene. Click this link for NoComply tickets.

© Dose Skateboarding / Will Drysdale

Tory Turk is the curator of the exhibit, although initially an idea of Frankie Shea. Three rooms consisting of different topics, beginning with City as a Playground, leading to Doing it With Others and finishing with Doing it Yourself. 

City as a Playground focuses on areas of cities designed for everyday life have become attractions for skaters to visit from the 1970s to the present.

Doing it With Others is the next room, detailing the importance of the original form of print in skating, 'zines' as there called today. Filled with clothing of the past and present and a look at the first-ever skate orientated video game made by RockstarGames for PS1 in 1999, Skate and Destroy.

© Dose Skateboarding / Will Drysdale

© Dose Skateboarding / Will Drysdale

Lastly, Doing it Yourself takes the last but most personal area of the exhibit. Comprising stories of personal triumphs in communities to keep popular skate areas running.  Such as Long Live Southbank and just how passion resonates in skaters. The walls covered in quotes like "running out of money, eating the weirdest food, sleeping in a ditch, just to go skateboarding, and do your own thing with people who love it just as much as you".

It's an insightful look into the diverse culture of skating. If you're in or around London, it's definitely worth checking out.