Light at the End of the Tunnel at House of Vans

In the home of the iconic chequered sneaker opens an art exhibition that could not fit better with the Vans brand or skate culture in general.

Located in the haunting Old Vic Tunnels by Waterloo, the House of Vans has kept everything largely unfurbished. It is a space where the philosophies of the brand — skateboarding, music, street culture — culminate in one place. A large skatepark stretches over most of the place, the other rooms house bars and a small concert area. There are hints to the history of Vans everywhere, small collages show the evolution of the shoe.

The current exhibition Light at the End of the Tunnel occupies a comparatively small space and stretches over one of the archways. The tunnel is kept entirely in the dark and, upon first glance, leaves the visitor to wonder what awaits them at the end of it. The only source of light comes from the installation itself, which truly represents the future of graffiti. Instead of paint, artists and visitors alike are invited to cover the antique walls with laser pens, leaving their glowing marks on the surface. The wall art is thus constantly changing, new sketches cover old ones and soon the walls are entirely changed.

The ambience of the installation is fresh and exciting, yet unfortunately there is only a very limited space provided to explore one’s creativity, which can also get crammed at points. House of Vans is nonetheless worth a visit, especially if one wants to combine a trip to the skatepark with some art on the side.

Luisa Kapp
Photos: Nick Bennett

Light at the End of the Tunnel is at House of Vans from 4^th until 28^th August 2016, for further information visit here.