Exhibition photos by Frank Fischer
Have you ever skated in a museum?!
You are invited to a unique experience at the MEN (Museum of ethnography Neuchâtel) in Neuchâtel, Switzerland: the Skate of Mind exhibition celebrates skateboard culture through March 7, 2027.
What is the connection between skateboarding and a museum?! Once you have visited the MEN, you will no longer ask yourself that question. «Because skateboarding is a way of finding your place in the world: Learning to fall, to pick yourself up, to ride again. Together.» (Skate of mind exhibition).
« Because skateboarding is a way of finding your place in the world: Learning to fall, to pick yourself up, to ride again. Together. »
– Skate of mind exhibition
Here is how the exhibition is presented : « Skate of mind is neither an anthology nor a catalogue, it offers an immersion in the visual aspects of this universe through its guiding line : the skater’s eye, the specific way of seeing a space as a possibility, a field for exploration, a mean of expression. » (Skate of mind exhibition).
« Skate of mind is neither an anthology nor a catalogue, it offers an immersion in the visual aspects of this universe through its guiding line:
– Skate of mind exhibition
the skater’s eye, the specific way of seeing a space as a possibility,
a field for exploration, a mean of expression. »
The exhibition also evokes legendary spots like the EMB and Love Park.
On certain dates, you can even skate the exhibition itself or modify the skate modules during DIY workshops!
After passing through a recreation of a teenager’s bedroom and checking out old skate magazines—including Confusion—as well as a collection of stickers and iconic skateboard videos, you arrive in a room filled with various skate obstacles. You can even play Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater on a simulator.
The exhibition showcases a collection of boards selected for their edgy graphics. DIY culture is also highlighted, notably through the “Locle Ness” skatepark (Switzerland).
Finally, on the top floor, you can admire photographs by French Fred and Alan Maag.
« Skateboarding teaches more than how to surf concrete. It’s a school of freedom, of perseverance, and above all of creativity. It encourages us to look at things beyond their common usage, to imagine a world, not as it is, but as it could be » Fred Mortagne
« Skateboarding teaches more than how to surf concrete.
– Fred Mortagne
It’s a school of freedom, of perseverance, and above all of creativity. It encourages us to look at things beyond
their common usage, to imagine a world,
not as it is, but as it could be. »
French Fred introduces you to a spot you never would have imagined before!
Who said visiting a museum was boring?!
Words by Frank Fischer
Skate photos in Sk8 of Mind exhibition by Julien Glauser
« It’s not just about building, but about creating together—creating a community, creating a meeting place, and, of course, the joy of riding that spot. »
– Pontus Alv
Article:
Skate of Mind – 19.06.2026 – 08-03-2027 – article from Musée d’Ethnographie Neuchatel,
“With Skate of Mind, the Neuchâtel Museum of Ethnography explores contemporary imaginations through skateboard culture. Often regarded as a way of life, skateboarding occupies a unique space at the intersection of sport, art, ethics, and philosophy.
Images from specialized media, widely circulated, allow an entire community to learn the techniques while absorbing the codes, attitudes, style, and vocabulary associated with them. For its members, the discipline demands personal commitment: only those who master the board will grasp the complexity of the trick (acrobatic maneuver).
Placing a strong emphasis on visual culture, the exhibition explores the “skater’s eye”—that unique way of perceiving the environment in a tireless search for new spots. Fred Mortagne reveals in an unexpected way the potential of “Toblerones,” those anti-tank obstacles whose concrete silhouettes haunt the Swiss borders, while Alan Maag elevates details invisible to the novice but inspiring to the initiate.
Far from presenting a static anthology, Skate of Mind is a mobile, evolving exhibition-laboratory that takes shape through public gatherings and DIY workshops. For there is one golden rule in skate culture: “Never Been Done.” Copying a trick that’s already been done at a spot is out of the question; innovation reigns supreme! Serving as both a mirror and a playground for sensory experiences, the museum demonstrates that skateboarding’s heritage lies in the constant reactivation of spaces by its practitioners.
Like the push—that propulsive movement that creates momentum—the institution itself becomes a dynamic spot. This kinetic metaphor opens a window onto the spirit of creation and freedom in skateboarding, without overlooking some of its paradoxes.”
Download the Skate of Mind event press release for more info.