Xiaomi Unveils Daniel Arsham-Designed Phones Made To Look Like Precious Relics
Barely two months after Daniel Arsham teamed up with Rimowa on a “worn” pilot suitcase, the famed designer is back with another collaboration, this time with Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi.
The New York-based artist has reimagined the brand’s Xiaomi 12T Pro in his signature “fictional archaeology” fashion, turning the device into an art piece with bronze crystals set in an eroded green patina.
According to Engadget, while the design isn’t lifelike enough to comprise protruding crystals, the printed gems and patina give off a special shine as you tilt the smartphone under the lights.
In addition, the limited-edition phone comes with a matching live wallpaper that shifts along with the device, creating a 3D illusion that everything’s moving together like an interactive art piece.
Speaking to WWD, Arsham revealed that in this era of hyper-consumerism, he approached the smartphone more like a sculpture than a functional technological device.
Envisioning a future 20 years later where the phone could no longer be in use, the artist said it will “transition into a sculptural object” instead, with its use “carried beyond the functionality.”
The Xiaomi 12T Pro Daniel Arsham Edition will be available for €899 (US$930) from December 16, with only 2,000 sets up for grabs. Shoppers can order online on the Xiaomi online store, or head over to the dedicated popup shop in Berlin.
