Daniel Arsham's 'Fictional Archaeology' Retrospective Transforms Consumer Objects into Crystalline Ruins at OCMA

The Orange County Museum of Art in Costa Mesa is currently hosting Daniel Arsham's inaugural American museum retrospective, titled 'Wherever You Go, There You Are,' which will run until June 4. This exhibition highlights 30 years of Arsham's artistry, where he reinterprets items through the lens of 'fictional archaeology.' Notable transformations include late 20th-century objects, such as a Polaroid camera and a DeLorean, which he turns into jewel-encrusted relics. A standout work is the 'Arsham Porsche 911 Turbo (930A)' (2020), a 1986 Porsche that remains unaltered by his signature crystalline decay. His collaborations with brands like Leica Camera, Ford, Adidas, Dior, and Tiffany & Co. are also featured, including the '$59,000 Bronze Eroded Tiffany Blue Padlock' (2022). The exhibition drew over 10,000 visitors during its opening on Valentine's Day, indicating a potential for luxury items to provide a sense of redemption.