Aaron Kr. 
We have been keeping you up to date with all the latest on the Artist Series editions of the Air Max LeBron VII from the More Than A Game World Tour. So far, King James and the tour have hit a few U.S. cities like Chicago, Washington D.C. and Akron and now it’s on to Asia where LeBron will make stops in three Chinese cities this week. The other day, we gave you a sneak preview of the Artist Series LeBron VII’s from China, and now it’s time to take a closer look at the Beijing edition. The shoe was hand-painted by artist, Le Quiqui, who has given the shoe a shiny gold and orange look to represent for Beijing, complete with nods to the architecture and tradition of the city, as well as some Chinese proverbs and more personal homages to LeBron. Keep reading after the jump for a more detailed account of the artist’s motivation and a bunch of close-ups that will allow you to see the finer details of the Beijing Artist Series installment of the Air Max LeBron VII.
Beijing Artist Collaboration
At a presentation that took place during Nike’s grassroots activities in Beijing, Le Quiqui gave James a uniquely designed pair of Air Max LeBron VII shoes.
Le Quiqui was inspired by the idea of Old Beijing, which is the translation for LeBron’s nickname in China, “Lao Beijing”. The designer chose gold as the key color, which represents the sun’s power and the imperial heritage of the city. The Si He Courtyard on the shoe exemplifies Beijing’s unique architectural style in the traditional days of the city. The shape is exaggerated to spell out the letters LBJ.
Traditional Beijingese place proverbs on the gate pillars of their homes. The proverb in the design means “keep going, don’t stop”, which ties back to LeBron’s unstoppable and “bring everything” attitude on the court. The lion on the shoe represents the two stone lions that are frequently present in traditional Chinese architecture at the home gates to show prestige and status. The lion is also one of LeBron’s signature symbols.
“The eye at the back of the shoe is my good wish to LeBron…I wish for him to always have full visibility both on court and off court,” says Quiqui
Li Quiqui is 28-years-old and draws his inspiration from the Beijing’s art and street culture. His work includes Animation, Graphic Design, Graffiti and Skateboard Design.
