Rolling Religion

Mixed media wall design

A multi-part mural in mixed-media style was created for the Berlin skate park on the RAW grounds. The building's historic industrial architecture is combined with the culture of skateboarding and BMX sports using a sacred imagery.

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Industrial architecture as a cathedral

The starting point for the design was the architecture of the RAW site itself. During the initial site visit, the large industrial windows of the hall appeared almost sacred, like the window fronts of a church. This association formed the core of the design concept.

The striking window openings were interpreted as modern church windows, inspired by the style of classic leaded glass. Curved, flowing forms echoed the aesthetics of ramps and halfpipes, lending the church windows a dynamism directly inspired by the skateboarding world. Intense color fields and mosaic-like structures made the windows resemble stained glass—vibrant and bright, yet retaining the strict, ordered structure of genuine church windows.

Industrielle Mixed Media Gestaltung im Kirchenfensterstil zeigt einen Skater Auf der Halfpipe der gerad einen Trick durchführt

Skating as a religion

Within this stained-glass window-like structure, abstract figures of skateboarders and BMX riders were placed, frozen in motion. They resembled religious figures in modern sacred buildings. The skateboarding and BMX scene has long celebrated its sport as a distinct culture, appearing to the outside world like a religion. This attitude was captured and made visible here.

In this way, the subculture of skateboarding was elevated to the level of religious conviction without appearing ironic or disrespectful. Rather, it created a genuine homage to the devotion and identity that many associate with this sport.

History and the present in dialogue

The design deliberately integrated the building's existing brick architecture into the overall concept. The combination of historic window openings, intense color fields, and mosaic-like figures created a striking contrast between the site's industrial past and a contemporary urban art aesthetic.

The result was a site-specific artwork that respected the building's history, reinforced the character of the skate hall, and made the vibrant culture of its community visible in an iconic, distinctive visual language.