Hello, I am Arno Coenen, and three years ago, to my joy, I got an art assignment from the city of Amsterdam to make a series of Delft Blue tile panels on the biggest skatepark in the Netherlands, designed by Rune Glifberg, they planned to build.
Three years later, and months and months of drawing, assisted by Ton Haring and Simian Switch, then the piece was done, and the skatepark was a tremendous success.
The work is called "an Outcast's Sanctuary" and celebrates the punky, thrashy, subcultural 80's roots of what is now an Olympic sport.
I was in high school in the 80's listening to Slayer and doodling with my BIC ballpoints during class.
Now I am 47 and still doodling during meetings. And 3 of my kids find refuge in the skateparks that are, indeed, the outcast's sanctuary now.
More info: arnocoenen.eu
An Outcast's Sanctuary
Initial sketches for the project
Obligatory selfie (Me on the left)
