Author: Jake Archer
Continuing our Footpatrol Discussions series for 2023, we kick things off with artist, Joe Goldman.
Art is something that’s been deep rooted within the sneaker culture from the very beginning. Along with music and film, art is another form of expression just like how we see sneakers when paired with an outfit for example. It’s this expression that first grabbed our attention to Joe’s work. Colourful yet expressive, crazy yet thoughtful, his work is a range of mediums to create these stunning canvas’. Having caught our eyes on multiple occasions over the last few years, we caught up with the self-taught artist to learn more about him, his artwork and how his mood determines his craft.
Take a closer look below as we get up close to these intricate pieces.
Footpatrol: Hi Joe, hope you’re well, thank you for taking the time to speak to us, if you could please tell us a bit about yourself and the work you produce?
Joe Goldman: Hi, thanks for coming down. I am a self taught artist with a background in graffiti as well as illustration. I paintabstract pieces with elements of digital and graphic aesthetics. The work also focuses on depicting the duality of the mind and the heart. Through variation in the mark making and textures, there’s an interplay between impulsive expression and more analytical decisions. In recent years I have developed an interest in meditation and ways of exploring different states of consciousness. This has made its way into my work, through embracing flow states, and the intention to express a sense of oneness and unity in each piece. I want to invite the viewer into a world where marks and colours represent a range of ideas, thoughts, feelings and energies. A sort of organised chaos.
FP: Something I can’t quite put my finger on, is trying to work out what artists (if any) inspire you, your work is very individual, or do you draw influence from a totally different theme?
JG: Alongside my intention to incorporate mindfulness and the exploration of consciousness into my art, I definitely am inspired by other artists. Picasso is quoted as saying ‘good artists borrow, great artists steal’. Stealing ideas and then transforming, remixing, melding them. I definitely pick up ideas from all manner of sources, whether consciously, ie: the colour palettes of colourist Francis Cadell, compositional ideas from Kandinsky, Frank Stella and Tomma Abts, paint drips and beautiful textures created by Fiona Rae, to name just a few of my art heroes. I also recognise that my work is subconsciously influenced by a culmination of life experiences; childhood trips to the National Gallery with my grandma, Lego building, the science museum, video games, a love of graffiti, a fascination with light installations, sci-fi films, the complicated relationship that we have with the internet and screens. Inspiration is everywhere. Most recently my work is inspired by technology; software tools that can be used to manipulate my (analog) ideas into previously unimagined images in a creative back and forth dialogue.
FP: Can you elaborate on positive and negative space for us?
JG: There’s an idea that I first came across in still life drawing at school, that objects, which can be called positive space exist, within a space, often called negative space, essentially the background. And while negative space might not draw the eye as strongly as the objects of focus, it is essential to frame and give meaning the object. Whether by cramping, and constraining, or giving breathing space. For example imagine a painting of a single bird flying in a clear sky; our tendency is to notice and study the bird, but it’s the sky space that gives us the sense of scale, and majestic nature of flight. If we cropped the picture just to show the bird, we would lose much of the meaning and power in the original image. In my work I am conscious about maintaining a balance in this sense, and always look to have areas where the eye can rest, and then pick out a few smaller areas of focus.
FP: I’ve seen you mention about how your mood may determine the outcome of your art, are there any other factors that have a significant effect on how an initial concept might look different to the final piece.
JG: Hmm. I’d say that from concept to piece there aren’t great changes, but in developing the concept there is an evolutionary process. I will often come up with an idea one day, and feel pretty psyched about it. Then two days later I’ll see lots of problems, so I have to make changes. If a week can go by, and it stands the test of time, then it’ll survive. At some point you have to let go of the idea of imperfection and decide a piece is finished, as expressed by Leonardo Da Vinci; ‘art is never finished, only abandoned.’
FP: How is embracing the use of Pink going? One thing I love about your work is it seems you manage to find a home for every colour in spectrum to live in your work.
JG: Thanks, that means a lot! I have struggled in the past with using colour effectively. I try to be inclusive and mix colours that don’t usually go together. Ratios are everything. Pink is used sparingly, but it can be a very powerful colour!
FP: As we enter 2023, what will be the driving force for you and your work? Are there new elements you want to start to introduce or even elements that you would like to take out?
JG: It’s a bit early to tell, but to keep pushing myself and showing up and putting the time in. And learning to embrace uncertainty more. I think there’s a bit of a myth around art that inspiration suddenly arrives and work pours out like a tsunami and then recedes forcing us to wait. In reality I have found that like most things it’s time and effort put in equals progress. I would like to introduce more textural elements in my painting, and experiment with different materials.
FP: Are there any shows that people can come to in 2023 an see your works up close?
JG: I will be updating my website and Instagram soon with upcoming shows, so check that out; Joegoldmanstudio.co.uk and Instagram. Currently I’m building up a body of new work which I’m excited about.
FP: Thank you for taking the time to chat to us Joe, it’s been a pleasure to see your work irl, are there any words of wisdom you wish to bestow on the readers?
JG: Thanks for visiting, and featuring me, it’s been a pleasure.
Something that affects many of us, and in particular creative types, is perfectionism. It’s something that really affected me in my earlier years of art making, and that I have worked through a lot . It’s a sneaky state of mind because it seems right and admirable to want to be perfect in what we do! But in reality what we are doing in this state is trying to create something that will be liked by everyone, which is at its core pretty much impossible. We cannot know what others will truly love, and even if we could then a hundred voices with a hundred different tastes offer us no clear path forward. Perfectionism holds us back. On a deeper level we are also denying our own desires. There’s an alternative, and in my view much healthier way forward. We listen to our instincts, pursue and make things that we want to see in the world, and accept our imperfection .The world’s a big place, and there will be others that resonate with our voice.
Back in 1984 Micheal Jordan ended up winning the Rookie of The Year, October 26th of that year MJ signed with Nike and the sneaker game was changed forever. Before creating the ‘Air Jordan’ brand, MJ wore the Nike ‘Air Ship’, MJ didn’t debut the Air Jordan 1 until November 17, 1984, and that was in the iconic red, white and black colour way now known as the ‘Chicago’. There has been many retros of this shoe over the years, ranging from patent leather to ‘off-white’ iterations. The Chicago colour way is arguably the most iconic, in 2022 we can now have a real nostalgic feeling with this release. Complete with cracked leather, aged under sole and mismatched lid to the box paying homage to the mom and pop history of the retailing of the shoe.
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A blast from the past has arrived and it comes from the good folk at New Balance.
After seeing the guides at the Mount Rainier climbing school wearing running shoes, New Balance took it upon themselves to rethink the chunky, heavy traditional hiking boot that were available at the time. Its appearance comes straight from the archive and is an instant 80’s throwback that’s filled with nostalgia.
Over the years, the Rainier has been a feature for many collaborations including Nordic greats Norse Projects and more recently, everyones favourite, Aimé Leon Dore. This latest inline offering from New Balance however features a sturdy leather construction in a ‘Glazed Ginger’ finish. Of course, the rugged outsole that’s prepped and ready to take on any terrain is courtesy of Vibram which means this latest iteration is just as prepared as its OG.
Take a closer look below and shop the New Balance Rainier online here!
Dominating the hardwoods in 1990, the Jordan 5’s entered a new era of sneaker consciousness. Sought after due to its legendary namesake, the Jordan 5 was not an only icon but became a motif for cultural change. One was its hefty $125 (£101) price tag, with the 5’s becoming the most expensive Jordan at the time, and another being the first Jordan Michael played in as he got one step closer to beating bad boys Detroit Pistons. Unveiling 4 OG colourways including the ‘Fire Red’ (Black tongue), ‘Fire Red’ (Reflective tongue), ‘Metallic’, and ‘Grape’ meant that the designer Tinker Hatfield knew a thing or two about keeping the Jordan label’s foot on the acceleration pedal.
This ‘Dunk on Mars’ rendition is this season’s latest creation that takes you on an outlandish journey to outer space. Loud and proud and inspired by Spike Lee’s Mars Blackmon’s character that features in many of MJ’s lucrative ads, the fit lives up to its namesake via its red suede body that covers the uppers from head to toe. Mesh netting delivers ventilation to the sidewalls, while a 3M reflective tongue backs you up on those late-night strolls. Branded ‘23’ labelling sits on the laterals, while a lace toggle offers extra adjustability. Downstairs, the fit is equipped with a visible Air unit that delivers optimal cushioning, while there’s plenty of grippiness in the translucent outsole.
The WMNS Air Jordan V ‘Dunk on Mars’ is now available to shop in-store and online here!
That’s it, we’re deep into those winter months now and there is no escaping it. We’ve seen rain, snow, thunder, lightning, and more rain. This all equates to unpredictable weather and terrain. However, It’s not all doom and gloom as we can always rely on New Balance to supply us with a much-needed outdoor fashion-ready silhouette. No strangers to a chunky, all-terrain tackling silhouette, for 2023, New Balance introduces the 610 ‘Incubation’.
For inspiration, the 610 delves into the world of trail running shoes. With a rugged outsole at the ready, the upper is a sleek streamlined design that utilises a mix of materials across its multitude of overlays. This latest ‘Incubation’ pack features a duo of tonal colorways from its sleek combination of black and white discovered in the ‘Aluminium’ iteration to its understated ‘Timberwo’ offering, there is also more than meets to eye with this two-fold collection, with a C-Cap midsole that offers a weightless feel to your running ventures – no matter the tricky terrain. Now that’s a range that knows a thing or two about innovation.
Shop the New Balance 610 online here!
Here at Footpatrol, we might love to dig out those timeless retro sneaker styles and explore the core history behind a shoe; but right now, we want to focus on what’s to come, with a glut of exciting silhouettes bursting onto the scene. Through great creative minds, innovative technologies, and state-of-the-art facilities, brands are able to conceptualise, develop and produce truly mind-blowing footwear. So, sit back and relax as we take you through some of our current favourites – there’s lots to learn.
adidas NMD S1
German-born brand adidas Originals knows a thing or two when it comes to innovation. Revolutionising its athletically crafted fits since its inception, the lifestyle label now broadens its portfolio with its latest futuristic offering. With styles like the Rovermule and adiFom representing a new direction for the brand, while the NMD_S1 shows that the label’s classics are evolving.
Well ahead of its time in 2015, the NMD_S1 served a new comfortable meaning to futuristic style, and since then, has never been slept on. All thanks to its rich combination of textile and techy mesh that layered the fit with ventilated comfort. Primeknit material offers a sock-like fit, while EVA cushioned soles prepare you for a cloud-like landing. There’s also plenty of grippiness in the rubber sole underfoot, keeping you agile on your feet all day long.
Shop our adidas futuristic styles here
Nike Air Max Scorpion
Nike is no stranger to innovation; throughout its tenure, it has released some of the most iconic sneakers that you can find. Always one step ahead of its competitors, the Swooshes remain but silhouettes like the ISPA Sense Flyknit and the Air Max Scorpion represent bold new looks for the Beaverton label.
Created in unprecedented times of Covid, the Air Max Scorpion is a relatively new design created by Phil Woodman that serves innovation from its core. Offering a Primeknit set up, Swoosh doused sidewalls and a bungee-style lace system. Credited as the ‘New age of Air’ the fit also introduces radical Air units underfoot, which offers greater movement, stability, and impact absorption to its wearer.
Shop our Nike futuristic styles here
New Balance 9060
The Boston brand with a roster of lifestyle grails, New Balance knows a thing or two about creating globally popular sneakers. As we delve deeper into the decade, we are seeing New Balance replenish its roster with a set of new iterations, one being the 990 lineage that has received an all-new sixth iteration, while a chunky, technical 9060 offers a bit of scope to bulk up your style.
A retro-futuristic masterpiece, the 9060 was designed by Yue Wu in 2019, who had worked on previous models for the brand such as 2002R ‘Refined Pack’. For the 9060, Wu created a silhouette that took mainstay inspiration from the 990s, including its close-knitted mesh and pigskin overlays. TPU accents on the heel added depth to its foreboding construction and ‘N’ labelling remained faithful to the sidewalls. The technical ability of this fit is mostly established in its groundwork, via its SBS and AZORB-induced midsole that offers supreme comfort throughout. Below the rubber treaded sole delivers stability when you need it most.
Shop our New Balance futuristic styles here
On Running Cloudaway
First landing its feet on the Swiss Alps in 2010, On Running is a brand that focuses quite simply on revolutionising running. Whether that’s the utterly unique silhouettes that come with it such as the Cloud Nova and Cloud Ultra, or something a bit more catered to powerful take-offs like the Cloudaway, the brand helps runners find their personal bests and streetwear lovers, a new futuristic style.
Sustainability engineered and offering a true hybrid design to its active lifestyle market, the Cloudaway is one of the brand’s masterpieces that combines seamless technicality, with fashion-forward style. Swiss-engineered mesh is the material of choice for the upper, while a well-cushioned midsole boasts zero gravity foam and CloudTec technology so every step has a softer landing. Branded hits throughout are a nod to On Running’s roots, while a rubber-mantled outsole offers a grippy finish.
Shop our On Running futuristic styles here
Reebok Big Kinetica
English-born brand Reebok was founded in 1958 by brothers Joe and Jeff Foster who envisioned a shoe brand that would operate through a stylistic lens but as equally be practical in the sporting industry. The 1980s and the era of keeping fit in full force saw the brands’ inaugural fit within the aerobic world. But it was the 90s that saw the brand take technological innovation to new heights, introducing the likes of Instapump technology and the running cushion system DMX. Fast-forward to 2023, the brand remains at the forefront of contemporary recreations of its vintage runners, with the LX8500 continuing to deplete your running averages, while the Zig Kinetica Edge II offers more stability for those trails.
Delivering a unique synergy between athleticism and futuristic style, the Zig Kinetica Edge was introduced to the trails in 2010, a relatively newer model from the Reebok lineage that prepares you for those off-terrain adventures. A rough suede base and synthetic lining hosted by a Thinsulate Thermal Management setup supplies insulating qualities to the fit’s entirety. A Floatride Fuel midsole forms the groundwork for supreme cushioning, followed by a gripped Vibram Ecostep outsole, for plenty of durability – on and off the tarmac
Shop our Reebok futuristic styles here
Birthed in the unpredicted times of the gym revolution in the 80s, the Reebok Workout Plus is just one of those iconic models that transformed the way that we approached the active lifestyle market. Being passed down from one successive generation to another, and highly recognisable for its simple, standout, and staple leather design, that fit now traverses beyond its subcultural means, with an all-new shoe iteration that is due to stand the test of time.
Creating its own glorified tropes for a fit so special to many sneaker buffs’ hearts is nothing other than Montreal-based streetwear store Dime. Straying from their very much synonymous skate park designs, this season the brand offers something that lends that extra bit of spectacle to its wearer.
This all-black offering comes with smooth leather through the uppers for a premium, minimal aesthetic up top. Dime branding nods to the collab on the sidewall, while further silver branding on the tongue, laces, and more at the heel homage to this collaborative effort. Reebok branding features, as seen on the outer of the midsole, whilst grippy rubber completes this effort with sticky, grippy traction underneath.
Shop the Dime x Reebok Workout Plus in-store and online here!
adidas and BOOST are two things that come hand in hand. Woven within the Three Stripes DNA, BOOST has been a feature throughout a number of signature silhouettes from the NMD franchise to the UltraBOOST, the cushioning technology now finds itself in their latest offering.
Dubbed the Xare BOOST, this sleek racer takes inspiration from the adidas Running archive by looking at styles from the 00’s with a lightweight upper that signalled the move away from the chunkier designs of the 90’s. The tonal Three Stripes help visually break up the synthetic overlays that work across the upper whilst 3D elements along the mid panel help to offer a more streamlined approach to the design. With BOOST under the foot, the Xare BOOST is another example of how comfortable and versatile this cushioning has become.
Take a closer look at both colour ways below and find them online at Footpatrol here.
Already causing a stir 2023 is nothing other than the lauded Jordan brand. Returning to the spotlight with its ‘85 trailblazer, the Jordan 1 continues to capture the hearts and imagination of b-ball enthusiasts across the globe. Showcasing plenty of colour schemes, designs, and collaborations along its 38-year-old sneaker journey, Peter Moore’s brainchild now takes it back home with one of its most revered colourways of all time.
Crisp white leather fills the high-rise construction, intercepted with a titular shade of blue that makes up most of the fit’s entirety, including the sides, mudguards, and lace chambers. Swooshing remains faithful to the sidewalls as well as delivering a slice of brand nostalgia, while hits of grey on the heel counter highlight the brand’s inaugural winged labelling. There’s also plenty of cushioning in the Air packed midsole, with the treaded sole unit underneath forming the groundwork for innovative play on those courts.
Kicking things off for 2023 and Frequent Players, we caught up with Italian based sound and visual artist Tokamu. Exploring the world of visual art, Tokamu sits down with Footpatrol to talk us more through himself and his intricate work. Coupling these visuals with sound, Tokamu leans on his 10 years experience of making music for a creative synergy between mediums.
Take a closer look at his visual mix he put together for us below!
Footpatrol: Firstly, Can you tell us about yourself, what you do, and the world of Tokamu.
Tokamu: Hi, thanks a lot for having me! I am a sound and visual artist based in Bolzano, Italy. I love to explore the worlds of visual art, animation, 3D art, sculpture and, most of all, electronic music. I like being free to choose between or combine various tools; Learning new tools, breaking tools, combining tools. These are things I do on a daily basis, and are incredibly accessible and easy to do nowadays. As much as I am afraid of the cold digital world (and its future), I love the incredibly powerful tools it offers to the contemporary artist. And, being familiar now with both music and visual art, I’m starting to find the commonalities between sound and image, between harmony and composition, between sound waves and light waves. My music inspires my visual art, and vice versa. It has become kind of a feedback loop, where I think I found a balance between these two different, yet so similar worlds. And, even though I’m 25 year old, I could see myself doing this for the rest of my days.
FP: I understand you went to University in London and graduated in Music Technology? Can you tell us more about your origins in music?
Tokamu: I started producing music around 10 years ago, with just a mate and a laptop. Where I come from there never has been a contemporary scene, so my inspirations always came from abroad. Brilliant minds like Brian Eno, John Cage, Aphex Twin, Nicolas Jaar and Four tet (and many others) drastically changed my approach to making music. While studying at the University of West London I met many talented people and great professors, which played a big part in motivating me to delve deeper into my study of music and its many shades and shapes. I love the culture of dance music, so much of my sound grew to be suited for clubbing. But I like to experiment with all sorts of genres: from ambient to noise rock, from classical to techno. It’s when I stopped having preferences that I truly started enjoying music in its entirety, even in its most abnormal and unpopular forms. As the great John Cage once said:
“If you develop an ear for sounds that are musical it is like developing an ego. You begin to refuse sounds that are not musical and that way cut yourself off from a good deal of experience.”
FP: What was the thought process behind adding visuals to your tracks?
Tokamu: My visual art came into existence because of necessity at first. I really wanted to do music for a living, but since the birth of music streaming it felt like there was no room for small musical artists. Once I had finished my studies I was overwhelmed with a feeling of resignation, and was afraid that my passion for music was just a phase that had to eventually end. I was considering starting studying computer science when I discovered the world of digital visual art. I took a glance into a whole new world of tools, all of which could have been integrated with my music. And the best part was that a lot of the terms and building blocks were the same from my audio softwares. So, I started programming tools using Max4live and Touch designer, and kept going down the computer graphics rabbit hole. The more things I learned, the closer I got to finding my own style, which now includes both music and image in a sort of seamless way. Now it’s part of my style and brand, but my visual art was initially a way to save my music – and my future as an artist.
FP: What was it that specifically drawn you to Touch Designer + Blender? Why not Make it in Adobe AE, Maya or Cinema4D?
Tokamu: Touch Designer is one of my favorite tools of all time. There is no other software that can do what it does. It always inspires me to experiment with things I would never experiment with. It also makes it easy to generate shapes and movements, and it’s a joy to experiment with. It’s also a great way to familiarize with coding and the world of generative art. And, last but not least, it’s an awesome tool for performing visual (and audiovisual) art.
Regarding 3D art, I mainly use Blender. I’m not to say that it’s a better tool than C4D or Maya, but I personally think it doesn’t lack anything. Anything from animation to sculpture, I find it a very fast and efficient tool to get complicated and articulated ideas into something that makes sense. It’s a real swiss army knife that even people who aren’t into 3D could find a use for (also, Blender is entirely free).
FP: Do the visuals represent your mood at the time of creation? Or are they made randomly?
Tokamu: I usually think of my art in abstract form, it is difficult to pinpoint specific emotions in relation to an image. If there’s an emotion in you when seeing them, it’s the right one for you (I think).
It’s often the case that my music is what inspires my visuals: already abstract in its nature, electronic music helps me find a perceivable (yet intangible) context from which my visual art takes shape.
I also feel like Nature and the Ancestral are big references in my process, as they contain many universal rules and eternal principles – but I guess a lot of artists could say the same.
FP: Is this a full time work thing for you? How else do you balance your time? I imagine rendering these visuals takes some time?
Tokamu: I am currently working as a freelance, doing commission work primarily in audio and visual production. I also occasionally perform as both a music and visual artist, which I’m hoping I will get to do more of in the future. I try to always be working on something, and don’t allow myself to lack inspiration. A video needs time to render? Time to work on music. Struggling while writing a song? Time to work on sound design. If the willpower is there, there’s always something to do. I am more or less working full time, either on commission work or my own stuff. That’s just what keeps me going.
FP: How do you hope your work inspires others?
Tokamu: I have been inspired by many great people, not only artists, and hope to give back what I’ve been gifted with.
I hope that the art I make can motivate people into figuring out the process behind it. I’m not interested in impressing by showing my finished results. I wish to make anyone interested in my art take part in this ongoing research, which anyone can be part of at any time.
I have experienced the struggle of starting an art career, and realized soon enough how hard it has become to pursue it nowadays. I wish that in the future people will teach more about reasoning and exploration, and a bit less about industry standards. More about the importance of (self) research, less about following instructions.
FP: You have a new album releasing soon? Is this something you’ve worked on for a while? and when can we expect the release?
Tokamu: I have collected a lot of music throughout the years which is ready to be released. I’m planning to release an album this December (2022). A lot of work went into it and I can’t wait to share it with the world.
FP: We would like to thank you for taking the time to answer the above and are there any words of wisdom or shoutouts you wish to make for anyone who is in the scene and also looking into sound and visual careers?
Tokamu: Once again, thank you dearly for having me.
My advice to any aspiring artist is: fill yourself with enthusiasm, look for beauty everywhere and all the time. Architecture, photography, sculpture, geometry, mathematics, chemistry, physics, botany (and so on): There are so many worlds to take inspiration from. One simple concept in architecture can change someone’s approach to photography. A geometrical principle can change someone’s approach to sculpture. Understanding the physics of sound can give a new perspective on music to someone who has been a musician his whole life.
Collect resources and archive everything You learn and what You create. The more things get encompassed by your experience, the clearer your vision becomes.
Don’t start the journey with a fixed goal. Reach out to those who inspire you, ask for advice. Surround yourself with people that can criticize your art in an honest and articulated way. You don’t have to make a living out of art in order to enjoy making art. And, remember: There has to be no compromise in your art.
