How do we mark the passing of time? How many of us notice the leaves changing colour from green to orange and know that summer is moving towards autumn? How many of us can tell the time by the position of the sun in the sky? How can we measure minutes on a sundial ? Recently I have been thinking of time and memorials; what stands the test of time and what does not. On the right, is an image of a reconstructed sun-dial at Nendrum Monastery which overlooks a part of Strangford Lough. On the right, is a working image of a wreath I am making to commemorate the loss of forest floors. The sundial is made from stone and it endured for centuries despite its history of destruction, burial and subsequent excavation. The wreath is made from bio-plastic, with deliberate destruction and reconstruction built into the design concept. It took a long time to make but how long will it take to destroy? How will each making and un-making reveal its history? Our times are commodified. We clock-in and clock-out. We try to buy a little time 'for ourselves'. We sell our time for an hourly rate - if we are lucky this gives us enough to live on. There is not enough time to appreciate what we stand on or what lies beneath. If you could pause time, or reverse the forward trajectory of Time's arrow, what would you do? How would you spend your time?
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