Time-ticking, cinema-stitching masterpiece by Christian Marclay at MoMA: A testament to the fleeting nature of present-day film art and the relentless march of time.
Revamped Review:
Tori Wee
Grabbing a quick glance at the time on my phone, I gaze up at the large screen before me, finding it perfectly in sync. A double-take confirms my suspicions - The Clock, a work of art by Christian Marclay, isn't just a visual masterpiece, but a functional timepiece too.
The time syncs up by the minute as the audience journeys through an hour and a day, all thanks to the fragmented scenes of thousands of films. The Clock (2010), currently on view at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in NYC, is a 24-hour looped masterpiece, the longest video artwork ever created. Don't expect to watch it like a movie, though; it's an art installation meant for museum exhibitions. The last time it graced the Big Apple was back in 2012 at the MoMA.
This piece is more than just a collection of familiar films; it's a montage of lives from the past century. From businessmen to assassins and socialites to high schoolers - Marclay weaves together the lives of many, painting a vivid picture of time passing.
At 11:38 a.m., a group of on-screen characters shouts, "It's the sound of time approaching!" Regardless of the scene, the passage of time is always top of mind. Marclay highlights our eternal quest to manage and master it, showcasing our frustration at the relentless ticking clock in various decades.
Sitting down amongst eighteen white couches in the room (comfortably fitting three people), I found myself merging with the cinematic ambiance of the exhibit. Strangers around me added to the experience, with individuals trying to squeeze in and people shuffling out, creating a collective sense of anticipation. As the hours passed, I found it challenging to rejoin the real world when the movie ended.
Despite not showing the full 24 hours, the MoMA usually displays The Clock from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with late-night showings on Friday until 8:30 p.m.
At 11:54:19 a.m., I caught a glimpse of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt from their movie Mr. & Mrs. Smith preparing for a deadly confrontation. Clips from various films, movies I recognized, and the occasional flick I didn't, kept me engaged and curious for what was next.
The Clock cleverly speaks to generational gaps by juxtaposing scenes from early black-and-white films against contemporary color clips. The quality vastly improves, mirroring the advancements in technology, while the audio remains consistent, creating a cohesive narrative.
At 12:00 p.m., the weight of noon settles in, marking the time often associated with lunch, waking up, or work-related appointments. The minutes leading to 12:00 p.m. create a sense of urgency, as characters prepare for their next move in scenes both dramatic and comedic.
12:25 p.m. sees two characters refusing to eat raw steak, a bizarre but recurring pattern in scenes across The Clock. Meticulous patterns, like people rushing to their appointments, repeat throughout the hours, unraveling Marclay's artistic vision.
Marclay's work carries deep meaning, as he deconstructs and reassembles existing pieces to create something fresh. He sampled sounds from various films, seamlessly blending them together into a unique film score that flows effortlessly throughout the creation. The 'sampling aesthetic,' originating from music in the late '70s, played a huge role in Marclay's early career as a punk rock artist and performance artist.
Intrigued by the repeated patterns in various films, Marclay draws attention to our shared human experiences. He makes us question how we handle time and invites deep contemplation on how we choose to spend our lives.
Witnessing the evolution of Meryl Streep's characters across decades and film quality eloquently portrays the advancements in cinematic technology. The Clock brings to light the lack of diversity in early films and highlights the strides made in recent years.
In a world where time mastery seems impossible, watching The Clock feels like time slows as you become immersed in the cinematic narrative. Don't miss out on this captivating artwork, currently on display at the MoMA until May 11th, 2025.
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24-hour montage
art* Christian Marclay* Cinema* collage* film* film clips* MoMA* Movies* moving-image history* NYC* NYC art* samplings* Television clips* the clock*
Artist's Statement: Christian Marclay's project, The Clock, calls attention to our shared human experiences through the exploration of time, utilizing various film clips to create a visual narrative that immerses the viewer. The use of synchronized clips, symbolic representation, and a carefully crafted film score conveys the universal themes of time and its representation across different eras, cultures, and genres.
- The video art piece, 'The Clock,' by Christian Marclay, is not just a collection of familiar films, but it also serves as a historical narrative of the past century, showcasing various aspects of culture and entertainment.
- 'The Clock' (2010) is a 24-hour looped masterpiece that not only showcases the evolution of cinema over time, but also delves into the universal theme of time, highlighting our shared human experiences.
