ASICS has launched a new collection dubbed “Art in Motion” created in collaboration with three Southeast Asian artists, each reimagining a Sportstyle model in there own signature style. The pack features a NOVABLAST SPS designed by tobyato from Singapore, a GEL-1130 by Kenji Chai from Malaysia, and a Japan S by Ann Irin from Thailand.
The NOVABLAST by tobyato draws inspiration from the traditional Chinese philosophy of yin and yang. It features an asymmetrical black and white design with pops of pink. The flowing tiger stripe motif across the uppers pays homage to the traditional Chinese belief that a tiger’s breath creates the winds around the world, mirroring the flow of creativity throughout the world.
Kenji Chai’s GEL-1130 comes in a “Chaigo” colorway, based on the artist’s canine character. Chaigo (Mandarin for stray dog) was created to capture the Malaysian graffiti artist’s own story of survival on the streets. The shoe comes in a teal color scheme and is covered in a camo pattern. Hits of orange are found on the sockliner and midsole.
Multi-hyphenate artist Irin Ariyatanaporn (aka Ann Irin) reimagined the Japan S, nodding to its heritage as a shoe worn by basketball players in the ’80s. The varied textures on the rust orange leather upper reflect the history of materials used on basketballs, while the cream panels nod to the color of the hardwood on indoor basketball courts. Irin’s artwork appears on the medial and lateral heels.
The ASICS “Art in Motion” collection is available now on the ASICS website (NOVABLAST, GEL-1130, Japan S). Check out all three pairs below.
tobyato x ASICS NOVABLAST SPS
Color: Black/White
Style Code: 1201A718-001
Release Date: May 2022
Price: $170 USD
Kenji Chai x ASICS GEL-1130 “Chaigo”
Color: Lagoon/Black
Style Code: 1203A198-303
Release Date: May 2022
Price: $120 USD
Ann Irin x ASICS Japan S
Color: Rust/Vanilia
Style Code: 1203A202-251
Release Date: May 2022
Price: $90 USD
