In a landscape increasingly shaped by digital imagery and artificial intelligence, ASICS takes a different approach to creative expression. Its latest project, Leaving a Mark, moves away from the polished perfection of the digital world and returns to something far more tangible: human hands, traditional techniques and an artwork shaped directly by nature.
Set among the hills of Kumamoto, Japan, the project sees ASICS collaborate wifh local ryokan owner Sato-san to carve the brand’s Spiral symbol into the surrounding grassland. The project uses the landscape itself as a canvas, creating a large-scale piece of artwork that will gradually disappear as the land follows its natural cycle.
A Piece of ASICS Heritage Carved Into the Landscape
The ASICS Spiral has long served as one of the brand’s most recognisable visual signatures. For Leaving a Mark, the symbol takes on a different form, moving away from footwead and apparel, to become part of the Japanese countryside.
Working alongside Sato-san, ASICS brought the design to life through a hands-on process rooted in local knowledge and traditional craftmanship. The result is an oversized interpretation of the Spiral carved into the hills.
An Artwork Designed to Disappear
What makes Leaving a Mark interesting is its temporary nature. The installation is not intended to remain permanently etched into the landscape. Instead, it follows the existing agricultural cycle of the grassland, which is regularly cut to provide feed for cattle befotr undergoing Notaki, a traditional controlled burning practice.
As the land is maintained through these processes, the carved Spiral will gradually disappear. Its lifespan is therefore determined by the environment and not a set deadline, allowing the artwork to exist as a temporary part of the landscape.
Reconnecting With Nature Through Movement
At its core, Leaving a Mark connects with the philosophy behind ASICS’ name, derived from the Latin phrase Anima Sana In Corpore Sano, meaning a sound mind in a sound body. The brand has long placed physical activity and mental wellbeing at the centre of its identity, and this project approaches that relationship through a different creative medium.
ASICS encourages people to step outside and experience their surroundings, so that they appreciate the simple act of movement. The project also highlights the importance of human craftmanship at a time when digital tools are changing how creative work is produced and experienced.
ASICS Leaves Its Mark on the Hills of Kumamoto With a Hand-Carved Spiral
