The Sun 24 Hours
2011
Six metal shelving units, 60 hourglasses, cardboard boxes
600 x 200 x 40 cm

The Sun 24 Hours features sixty hourglasses atop six metal shelves, inviting visitors to interact by rotating them. The title is derived from the Italian financial newspaper "Il Sole 24 Ore," which was unintentionally used as wrapping paper by the hourglass manufacturer. Accompanying the installation are cardboard boxes imprinted with the word "fragile," originally used for transporting the hourglasses.

The work explores the fleeting nature of time, touching on concepts such as the span of a lifetime, shared experiences, and the commodification of time itself. The interactive element encourages viewers to actively engage with the piece, reflecting on their own relationship with time and space. As the sand begins to flow when an hourglass is turned, participants become acutely aware of the space in which this action occurs.

Further reading
Patricia Bieder, “The Sun 24 Hours,” 2016

Kunsthaus Glarus, 2013. Photo: David Aebi
Malmö Konsthall, 2020. Photo: Helene Toresdotter