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Time is Fake
An installation on the topic of ‘time’
Installation, 2017 - 2019
Cultural floor Oldenburg, inner courtyard
Industrial watch with two dials, 67 cm diameter, year of construction ca. 1958
Sculpture base 110 x 25 x 25 cm, white
Large-area handheld pushbuttons, sun yellow
Control electronics
‘Time is fake’ is a work of art by the Oldenburg artist and art technician Michael Olsen from 2016 – 2018, which was created in cooperation with experts in the hardware and software, programming, mechanical engineering and clock technology sectors. It is based on the idea of Michael Olsen and deals with the topic of ‘time’ and the question of whether there is time at all, whether it is really measurable, what it does to humanity and creation, how bypassing and ‘life after time’ affects us humans and how we deal with it.
The artistic idea behind the work ‘Time is Fake’ aims to counteract the constant urge to ‘forward, forward!’ triggered and supported by clocks with hands and to trigger a reflection process on the topic of ‘time’ among the viewers. And this in a confusing and at the same time humorous way.
The clock is a harlequin, a clown, it counters the idea that clocks always go forward. Time is revealed only when it is needed: For measuring time spans, specifying appointments, specifying data, events.
Otherwise, time does not exist, it is a human invention.
Nevertheless, today's world is inconceivable without clocks, it is now even impossible without clocks. And at all times of humanity, the time of day and season, perceived by the sun, temperatures and length of the day, has accompanied and determined people and all other living beings.
The influence of ‘time’ has been significant since the beginning of the ability to measure, determine and focus precisely on the development of life on the globe. The purpose of the work of art is therefore, on the one hand, to confuse and amuse the viewer and, at the same time, to offer a critical rethinking of ‘time’ and, at the same time, to offer a critical rethinking of ‘time’.
‘Time is Fake’ has its own game, its hands can move forwards and backwards, fast or slow and opposite to each other, in large and small increments. And this completely uncontrolled and free and to each other without reference. The movements are independently controlled by means of a computer-based random generator for each individual pointer. So this clock does not indicate local time, it ‘plays crazy’, it invites confusion, makes you wonder. Nevertheless, it is possible to query the current local time, i.e. to operate the clock and thus enable the local time to be displayed on the clock.
This is because the clock includes a sun-yellow large-area hand button (sun-yellow, because 12:00 o'clock = zenith of the sun = greatest brightness of the day = primal reference of humanity to ‘middle of the day’). Pressing this button causes the control to set the hands to the real local time Oldenburg for 7 seconds. After these 7 seconds, the clock starts again with its free play. Pressing the button allows you to pause for a short moment.
This installation ‘Time is Fake’ has its place in the courtyard of the Kulturetage, Oldenburg, a socio-cultural centre for a wide range of performing and visual arts founded 30 years ago.
On this intersite, which is to be visited worldwide, it is also possible to set the clock fastened in Oldenburg to a local time with a clickable button.
In the event, for example, that a visitor to the San Francisco homepage clicks on the button, the clock in Oldenburg adjusts to the local time in San Francisco and the origin ‘San Francicso, USA’ is also displayed on an LED display under the clock. The web camera transmits this image to the homepage, so the image of the clock can also be seen in San Francisco.