The senuous R&B legend Usher was the other man of the hour at the evening dinner for Daniel Arsham’s new show at Galerie Perrotin on 15 September. Before servers dressed all in white tossed down the plates at a nearby hall, attendees viewed Arsham’s Long Island City studio, which featured not only a stunning view of Manhattan but also several busts of Mr Raymond IV. The friendship is longstanding, with Arsham doing the cover of Usher’s first album in four years, which drops today.
“I had just begun to embark on a new journey of understanding of minerals,” Usher said, of how he came to introduce himself to Arsham years ago, “that's more significant from whether it's used in pavement or buildings.” He gestured at the nearby gentrification. (His wife happens to make jewelry that involves large crystals.) The two collaborated on the song Chains, too, which deals with police violence. “Also he’s just fucking cool,” Usher said as Arsham approached. They recounted the process of making those busts—a trying time for the relationship that entailed Usher covered in a Madame Tussauds-style face cast for hours. “The experience can be very reflective,” Arsham said, “and disorienting.” So did Usher freak out? “Oh, man,” he said, “I’ll leave that to the next time.”