A Fictional Artefact
ELLE Singapore|October 2021
New york-based artist Daniel Arsham’s art is coveted. His collaborations? Even more so. His latest with Tiffany & Co. Has been eagerly anticipated, simply because it melds the fields of sculpture and jewellery so perfectly
Caroline Suganda
A Fictional Artefact

New York-based artist Daniel Arsham’s work is a beautiful juxtaposition of contradictions that not only dazzles the eye, but captures the pulse of the times. The 40-year-old, playing the role of a fictional archaeologist, brings a new perspective to the way we see everyday objects, by making items like an alarm clock or a radio appear as if they had been buried hundreds years ago. Imagine this: a household object is made to look like an eroded artifact that has been recently unearthed.

With a single thrust, the present, the past and the future mesh into one, creating a warped timeline that amuses and amazes people. Yet the whole presentation recontextualises contemporary objects through the lens of an imagined future, fabricated in monochrome colours simply because Arsham is colour-blind.

“My work imagines a contemporary object as if it were viewed from the future — as though we’ve [been] transported to the future and brought the object back. And this time dislocation creates a sort of paradox in the object itself. You have this thing that you know from your current era, but it looks old,” says Arsham.

Denne historien er fra October 2021-utgaven av ELLE Singapore.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra October 2021-utgaven av ELLE Singapore.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA ELLE SINGAPORESe alt
Check mate
ELLE Singapore

Check mate

For DIOR's cruise 2025 collection, Maria Grazia Chiuri weaves Scottish heritage into modern fashion, creating a dialogue between tradition and rebellion.

time-read
1 min  |
December 2024
Glow-Up Goals
ELLE Singapore

Glow-Up Goals

Expert-approved aesthetic treatments to get you looking refreshed, natural, and party-ready.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2024
All The Right Notes
ELLE Singapore

All The Right Notes

Singapore’s biggest Mandopop star to date, JJ LIN reflects on his two-decade career before embarking on the final leg of his world tour.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2024
Dubai: Capital Of The Future
ELLE Singapore

Dubai: Capital Of The Future

The most visited megalopolis in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai is a vibrant oasis of modernity; a hotbed of exciting new openings and endless plans.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2024
ARTFUL Indulgence
ELLE Singapore

ARTFUL Indulgence

Le Pristine Singapore IS THE NEW EPICUREAN ESCAPE FOR ART AND DESIGN AFICIONADOS.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2024
Talk of the Town
ELLE Singapore

Talk of the Town

Miu Miu CONTINUES DEEPENING ITS TIES TO THE art world WITH A PROJECT THAT BRINGS TOGETHER FILM, MOVEMENT AND CONVERSATION.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2024
See Her At N°5
ELLE Singapore

See Her At N°5

Margot Robbie embodies timeless chic as the new face of Chanel N°5. In this ELLE exclusive, the actress shares her take on the iconic scent.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2024
A closer look at...
ELLE Singapore

A closer look at...

You don’t have to be a Warhammer or Arthurian legend geek to appreciate Roger Dubuis’ latest Knights of the Round Table timepiece.

time-read
1 min  |
December 2024
BLUE Paradise
ELLE Singapore

BLUE Paradise

With the support of Rolex and Mission Blue, the Nusa Penida Hope Spot has become a sterling example of ocean conservation.

time-read
4 mins  |
December 2024
Counting the Métiers
ELLE Singapore

Counting the Métiers

In this ELLE Singapore exclusive, artistic director of watches and jewellery Francesca Amfitheatrof lays bare what goes into the making a LOUIS VUITTON high jewellery collection.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2024