Maarten Baas Reconstruction Clock

Maarten Baas’ Real Time series consists of filmed performances exploring the theme of time, which are screened on sculptures designed to resemble clocks. Reconstruction Clock depicts human hands arranging complex, scattered clock parts – gears, wheels, hands – on a surface to create the image of a clock. Filmed continuously over a span of 12 hours, the clockmaker carefully positions the hands of the clock to indicate the exact time, reflecting a delicate dance of creating order from chaos – yet the clock’s moving mechanics cannot be replicated. Every hour, a new bucket of parts is thrown into the centre and then neatly placed in the correct position, as if on an operating table. The film suggests that time is constructed from memories and experiences and reshaped anew in the present, while also inviting viewers to marvel at the intricate inner workings and components of a clock.