RELIC 06: THE CLOUD
Precision-engraved metal artwork
A singular 1/1 metal work exploring data infrastructure, technology and the physical architecture behind our digital world
Two 1/1 works — Now Live
RELIC 06: THE CLOUD — TITANIUM
Introducing RELIC 06: THE CLOUD — the sixth work in the RELIC series of singular metal artworks by Charles Lethaby.
Each RELIC is conceived as a 1/1 object. No two are the same. Individually machined, engraved, finished and resolved by hand, every piece exists as a unique artefact — defined by both its imagery and the material from which it is made.
THE CLOUD explores the physical infrastructure behind an increasingly digital world — the vast data centres, networks and energy systems that make the seemingly intangible idea of cloud computing possible. The composition places a monumental data centre alongside the familiar architecture of everyday life, contrasting ordinary homes, vehicles and infrastructure with the enormous technological systems increasingly being constructed around them.
The artwork is permanently laser engraved into the titanium surface, rather than printed or applied. Areas of exposed metal interact with the deep engraved detail, allowing the image to shift in character as light moves across its surface.
The titanium is carefully finished to retain its distinctive metallic character, creating subtle variations in tone and reflection that reinforce the physical nature of the work.
Sized to the proportions of a traditional baseball card, each piece measures approximately 89mm × 64mm, translating a familiar collectible format into a permanent metal artwork.
RELIC 06: THE CLOUD is a singular exploration of the physical architecture behind our digital lives — monumental infrastructure built to support something we have come to think of as invisible.
RELIC 06: THE CLOUD — Aluminium
Introducing RELIC 06: THE CLOUD — the sixth work in the RELIC series of singular metal artworks by Charles Lethaby.
Each RELIC is conceived as a 1/1 object. No two are the same. Individually machined, engraved, finished and resolved by hand, every piece exists as a unique artefact — defined by both its imagery and the material from which it is made.
THE CLOUD explores the physical infrastructure behind an increasingly digital world — the vast data centres, networks and energy systems that make the seemingly intangible idea of cloud computing possible. The composition places a monumental data centre alongside the familiar architecture of everyday life, contrasting ordinary homes, vehicles and infrastructure with the enormous technological systems increasingly being constructed around them.
The artwork is permanently laser engraved into the titanium surface, rather than printed or applied. Areas of exposed metal interact with the deep engraved detail, allowing the image to shift in character as light moves across its surface.
The titanium is carefully finished to retain its distinctive metallic character, creating subtle variations in tone and reflection that reinforce the physical nature of the work.
Sized to the proportions of a traditional baseball card, each piece measures approximately 89mm × 64mm, translating a familiar collectible format into a permanent metal artwork.
RELIC 06: THE CLOUD is a singular exploration of the physical architecture behind our digital lives — monumental infrastructure built to support something we have come to think of as invisible.
Introducing RELIC 06: THE CLOUD — a singular metal work by Charles Lethaby
Each RELIC is conceived as a 1/1 object. No two are the same. Individually machined, engraved, finished and resolved by hand, every piece exists as a unique artefact — defined not only by its imagery, but by the material from which it is made.
Crafted in anodised aluminium or Grade 5 titanium, THE CLOUD explores the physical infrastructure behind our increasingly digital world — the vast data centres, networks and energy systems that make the seemingly intangible idea of cloud computing possible.
At its centre is a monumental data centre, positioned alongside the familiar architecture of everyday life. Homes, vehicles and infrastructure sit beneath a night sky, creating a contrast between the environments we inhabit and the enormous technological systems increasingly being constructed around them.
The title refers to “the cloud” — a term that suggests something weightless, remote and almost invisible. In reality, the cloud is intensely physical. It exists through vast buildings filled with servers, cooling systems and electrical infrastructure, consuming land, materials and energy to store, process and transmit an ever-growing volume of digital information.
Rather than depicting technology as something abstract, THE CLOUD focuses on the architecture that makes it possible — reflecting on the growing physical presence of digital infrastructure and its relationship with the communities and landscapes that surround it.
The surface is carefully treated to create a restrained interplay of light and shadow. Fine engraved details emerge gradually as the piece is viewed from different angles, rewarding close inspection and revealing new characteristics as the metal responds to its surrounding light.
Sized to the proportions of a traditional baseball card, each piece measures approximately 89 mm × 64 mm, translating a familiar and collectible format into a permanent material form.
RELIC 06 is not a reproduction, but a singular work of material presence — a one-of-one object exploring the monumental physical infrastructure behind something we have come to think of as invisible.
Material: Anodised Aluminium or Grade 5 Titanium
Format: 89 × 64 mm
Edition: 1/1
Finish: Individually engraved and finished by hand
