Crystal relic 04, playstation controller, by Daniel Arsham Explore Mondoir Collection Medium: Resin Dimensions: 9.4 x 29 x 5.6 cm Year: 2021 Price on request Status: available Why collect this work?By preserving a game controller’s recognizable interface while removing its electronic function, this sculpture recasts an instrument of immediate response as an object of technological memory. Arsham’s title pairs “crystal relic” with “PlayStation controller,” applying archaeological language to a device from recent consumer culture. The temporal mismatch is central to the work’s premise.The photograph shows a frontal, symmetrical controller form with directional pad, paired sticks, buttons, grips, and lettering still legible. Its apparent transparency makes these familiar controls seem present yet inaccessible.The documented resin medium can support crystal-like optical effects while retaining detailed contours. Here, it separates the controller’s interface from its original materials and operation without erasing recognition.Made in 2021, the sculpture is a useful point of comparison for collections addressing gaming, product design, or media archaeology because it treats embodied habits of play as historical evidence. About the ArtistDaniel Arsham Daniel Arsham is an artist featured in the Mondoir Collection. Nationality: American Contemporary artist known for blending sculpture and architecture.
