We are all familiar with the New Balance 327 — the popular ’70s-style running shoe, reinvented for a modern market. New Balance has always celebrated the art of running from its past to the present day, and with its latest 327 drop has collaborated with artist Keith Lam to bring us the limited edition “TRACK” box set.
Lam is famous for his unique observations of his surroundings combined with images, sound and lighting effects, often presented in a deconstructed fashion. He also co-founded new media art team Dimension Plus in 2009 and has lectured at a number of design institutes. For this New Balance collaboration, the Hong Kong-based artist has selected running track as the theme, creating a special sculpture for the box set that combines the analysis of movement with machine learning and 3D scanning technology.
To create the sculpture, Lam first captured the movement of a runner between a starting point and 0.1 seconds via motion analysis. The New Balance 327 has been 3D scanned and machine learning has been utilised to create the shape of the sculpture. The concept is then brought to life using 3D printing, resulting in an innovative piece of art that freezes a series of rapid movements. The black box features a runway track printed on the cover with a glossy effect to complete the concept.
The TRACK box set is limited to 70 sets worldwide. Those who spend more than HK$1,200 with the inclusion of a pair of New Balance 327 at www.newbalance.com.hk or New Balance Harbour City store will also have a chance to receive one.
