“Maybe it was destiny, maybe it’s because I love this typical architectural surface for painting in art history,” Artist Okuda San Miguel says. “I fell in love with it, even more after finishing it. The contrast of my contemporary painting over the amazing classic architecture is incredible.”
In late 2014, internationally renowned Spanish artist, Okuda San Miguel was introduced to the La Iglesia Skate (“Skate Church” in English) by a friend. As soon as San Miguel visited the space, he felt inspired to create his own personal touch through his iconic Kaos Star, a characteristically colorful, asymmetric compass, which features prominently in his murals. This also became the source of the church’s new name, the Kaos Temple.
The Skate Church aka Kaos Temple is located in the Spanish city of Llanera, in the northwestern principality of Asturias in Spain. Skateboarding is a religion in this part of the world and it comes as no surprise that a collective of skateboarders called the Church Brigade bought a 100-year-old church and converted it into an indoor skate mecca.
On Okuda’s visit to the Skate church, he noticed skateboard ramps, domes, and stained-glass windows that created a unique type of artistic harmony for the practice of Church Brigade’s “skateboarding religion.” Okuda wanted to enhance this effect through his vibrant art and his artistic vision convinced the Chruch Brigade. 
After a successful crowdfunding campaign through Verkami and collaborating with sponsors like sponsors like Red Bull, Montana Colors, Miller Division, and Socketines , San Miguel was not only able to raise enough funding to buy paints and tools, but also gave him the freedom to express himself without a single sketch and just one idea of painting his “Kaos Star” symbol, a colorful and asymmetrical wind rose.
“I started painting and looking for the best composition for each place of the church,” says San Miguel. “I decided to do all of my own iconography: humans, animals, organic items, trees, brick bodies, infinite eyes, skulls, birds, the universe, geometric patterns, chromatic circles—everything’s connected between [them].”
With the assistance of three creative souls – Antonyo Marest, Pablo Hatt, and MisterPiro, San Miguel was able to complete the paintings within seven days. San Miguel defines the Kaos Temple as a retrospective ride through his artwork and hence there is no political, spiritual, or economic message in Kaos Temple, but rather a broad canvas of many meanings.
“It talks about love, freedom, existentialism, the meaning of life, communications between modernity and the past, capitalism, and nature,” says San Miguel.
“Kaos Temple does not have a negative meaning but the most positive meaning from the word ‘Kaos,’” the artist explains. “It comes from one of my icons called Kaos Star, an asymmetric star of cardinal points—opposite way and opposite meaning. It comes to say it doesn’t matter where or when you stay, just focus on your goals and believe in your passion. It speaks about freedom, love, and art.”
The Kaos Temple doors reopened on December 10, 2015 and was inaugurated by professional skateboarder, Danny Leon, a well-known name to the community of gathered skate lovers. The Kaos Temple is now open for skaters who wish to practice in the vibrant indoor skatepark as well as for artists & art enthusiasts to collect inspiration from Okuda’s fantastic visualizations. 
Artist Okuda San Miguel inside the Skate Church
All images by Elchino Pomares
