THE CLOCK (2010)

The Clock is a 24-hour video art installation by Swiss-American artist Christian Marclay. The piece is a meticulously constructed montage of thousands of film and television clips, each featuring clocks, timepieces, or references to specific times. The installation functions as a real-time clock, with each scene corresponding to the actual time at which it is displayed.

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For example, a scene showing 3:15 p.m. on-screen will play at 3:15 p.m. local time. Since its debut, The Clock has been celebrated for its innovative approach to storytelling and its commentary on time, cinema, and human experience. Marclay conceived the idea for The Clock in 2005 while working on his earlier video piece Screen Play, where he sought a method for synchronizing music with film footage. The concept evolved into a broader exploration of time as a central theme. Wondering if it was possible to locate footage representing every minute of a 24-hour day, Marclay kept the idea under wraps for years, fearing it might be replicated.

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In 2007, after relocating to London, Marclay presented the idea to White Cube gallery. With their support and a budget exceeding $100,000, he assembled a team of researchers and editors to locate, catalog, and edit clips.

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Over the course of three years, they scoured films and television archives, piecing together the intricate timeline of The Clock.