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Air Jordan VI “Infrared”

Last year, when rumours were spreading that the Air Jordan 6 “Infrared” was coming back in 2019, with its original “Nike Air” embroidery on the heel, we got excited, to say the least. It’s one of these iconic basketball sneakers that impacted a lot of us sneakerheads, when we saw it in ‘91/’92 when Michael Jordan won it all (and, of course, starting his first three-peat).

Designed by Tinker Hatfield, MJ’s go-to sneaker designer and long-time Nike employee, the sophisticated high-top black and Infrared silhouette is inspired by Michael’s German sportscar and constructed with a neoprene sleeve, a translucent rubber sole, and visible Air unit.

To highlight the first-ever return of a true original, we went behind the process with Hank Grüner, who created a one-of-a-kind Air Jordan VI “Infrared” art-piece. Hank, born in 1991 is a Swedish creator & artist, who grew up playing basketball, Air Jordan and the whole movement behind Michael Jordan, so it was only right to team-up with him for this one-of-a-kind piece.

Interview with Hank Grüner

SNS: Please introduce yourself Hank Grüner: I am a painter, I make paintings big and small, but I also illustrate and tattoo. I usually hang out at the bar Snövit during the nights and eat the Salmon with Tsatsiki at Amidas KolGrill which is really good.

SNS: Your art style is instantly recognisable, how did you get to where you are today? HG: It's a hard question to answer. I am not a trained or schooled painter I am self-taught by watching and learning from older artist around me. I have been to different art schools, but it was never the place for me. I have a vision in my head, and try to stay true to that feeling.

HG: We live in a society where there are certain rules in some fields, but in art, I believe you have to break or challenge them. That's maybe how I created my own style. Maybe its also a bit of dark and light in my paintings, the balance.

I have been working a lot to get to where I am today, a lot of long nights and extra work has been the ground. But a lot of people work hard, so a bit of luck has made me where I am today.

SNS: Jordan Brand’s motto for the season is all about owning the game, how do you interpret that? HG: I am a ball-player and remember when I was a kid my dad put up a quote from Michael Jordan on the refrigerator, something like ”I've missed 300 shots, and that's why I succeeded.” My father told me that I needed to dare in life and not to be shy off, and on the basketball court, as Mike did, he kept shooting those shoots until it went in. I guess that is how I would interpret ”owning the game,” not to be afraid to fail. You might fail, struggle, but if you own that struggle, it might get a bit easier not letting the game take control over you. It's the misses and fails that defines you.

SNS: How does that reflect on what you do? HG: I think to work with art or anything creative you need to dare and trust your own instinct feeling, meaning to not be afraid to try and accept to start over again, you have to own your shit basically. Take the bull by its horns and enjoy the ride through the storm.

SNS: Is the message of your art within the beholder or do you want to tell specific stories with your work? HG: I never made art that you need an art degree to look at. It's up to the beholder of the art to make their own story of what they see, or think what they might interoperate it to be. Mythical creatures and magical realism or whatever you see.

SNS: What is the most challenging part of being an artist today?

HG: There are so many good artists everywhere, but fashionable hierarchy, that artists who work outside of the established gallery system are almost totally ignored which is a bit crazy. It's a crazy power structure. It’s easy to get lost comparing and striving to become an artist instead of focusing on your own feeling and expression. You should not compare yourself with anyone else but work as hard as you can, exploring and developing your own voice as an artist.

SNS: The Jordan 6 Infrared is known to be the Swedes favourite Jordan. What’s your relationship to the shoe? HG: I have always liked the Jordan 6 infrared but never been able to get it because it sells out so fast and I am a slow buyer. I am born 1991 same year as the sneaker was released, which also make the sneaker a bit more special to me, also because Michael Jordan was my idol as a child growing up watching the Chicago Bulls and Space Jam. To get the opportunity to make a painting for the release of the Jordan 6 Infrared is a dream come true.

SNS: What is your next challenge? HG: Creating more art and hopefully, I will have my own first solo exhibition here in Stockholm before the summer which I been working for a long time. Expect the worse and hope for the best.