Apensanteur: Time as an invention and concept.

This invitation popped up late last week, and with nothing going on for Tuesday, I RSVP’d to attend.  Having a bit of a late one last night, as well as the gloomy weather in Dubai this week, I almost skipped the event, but am so glad I decided to attend.

Starting time?  The invitation read 10:00-12:00AM and after a few many missed turns, I managed to get to the gallery at just around 10:20.  A discussion was led by the director of the gallery at 10:30AM.

Refreshments?  Poached quail egg anyone?  Lemonade and a few others well done hors d’oeuvres were passed around.  (Quite unexpected, but appreciated – 10:00AM on a Tuesday is an awkward ‘meal’ time on anyone’s calendar).

This beats my usual breakfast by a significant margin.

Location?  The M.A.D.Gallery, Al Serkal Avenue.

Messages?  Hearing any artist speak about their work is always a treat, especially when an untrained viewer (such as myself) would completely miss out on all the fantastic meaning. Quentin Carnaille was fascinating to listen to, and there was a lot of good questions from the group.

Imagine a collection of levitating magnetized watch parts.

In reality, it’s a study of time.  Time, which is a completely human construct, is this big concept that is difficult to translate into art.  Yet, these pieces did a fantastic job.  Not only are they literally made of time (watch pieces), but the original set was a collection of 12 (for the hours in the day).  As these pieces move (each in a unique unpredictable way)…because, life is random and everything is always changing, isn’t it?

Another one of the stunning time pieces.


Not for those with arachnophobia.

Personal reflections.  Readers, I will be honest with you.  I went into this event with limited expectations.  I walked out with appreciation that there can be meaning in the day to day, that there are reminders of the human experience all around us.  As Mr. Carnaille spoke, I thought of a project which has been dancing at my periphery recently.  My Fates project, which I feel I have more or less abandoned for years, has a lot to do with the concept of time.

Also, and a bit of a tangent as we discussed Mr. Carnaille’s next project (related to space), I thought about my books (obviously).  And how, maybe at some point in a month or day or hour, that there might be people, in different locations reading my book.  And that it would be some sort of unique shared experience.

…

Swag?  Some nice marketing material on artists and artwork available at the gallery.  A cute wooden art man.  A zip drive.

Bottom line.  More of this in my life, please.

Any deep thoughts for your Tuesday?