These works represent a personal reflection on time and death. A double fatality in a motor vehicle accident. The heavy rains we have experienced in Australia recently meant that their car came off the road. They were actually fine, and stationary. But the same rain caused another vehicle to run into the same spot. The impact instantly ended their journey toward death. I have no answers, but will keep questioning.
Included in Cista Arts A Moment in Time show and publication moment in time
These works create a conversation about the linear notion of time, and asks whether time is only ever relevant to the subjective viewpoint.
There are two works, of the same moment. A video and a still photograph. The video is one ongoing infinite movement. The photograph a collection of images (a long exposure) that create the perception of movement in a still image.
One moment, always takes more time than we think.
There are three dimensions in the work, using a close perspective to obscure an easy reading of the images, it demands attention. Already leading questions.
On close scrutiny there is a car wheel, next to a pavement, with water flowing against them.
The use of scale, focusing on the intimate to reflect the collective, much as Plato using the city in The Republic to reflect society as a whole.
Using the recognisable to explain the notions of time through Art.
This work compares the notion of time as linear movement between the before now, the now, and on to the next from now.
Contrary to Heidegger’s discussion of the human constantly running towards death, the human/Being centric notion that we see everything only from our own present. That the past is only seen from our own viewpoint. That when we think about the future, it comes only from what we can foresee or hope for, but that is based on our view of the past. A loop, our own Being centric loop.
The car, the human intervention, the object that would normally be the motion.
The pavement, solid, rock, so constant it has moss on it. Permanent.
The water, the only movement in the images, and the only difference between the two works.
Rain is a force of nature, we perceive the enormity of water on earth as endless, but it is finite. The source of all life, it is cleansing, gentle. But strong enough to cut through rock into gorges or to drip slowly enough to wear a hole in it.
In one image still, smooth, calm between the pavement and the wheel. In the other it is forever gushing, bubbling, pushing.
What is time, and what is our relationship with time?
Is the human/Being the man-made wheel, for a moment immobile, having a moment when time runs over it. Is the Being the rain-water flowing past the permanent pavement, pushing away the car, having power over time. Or are we the solid, never moving curb, having time flow past us.
Is time linear? Or should we perceive it as Being centric, are we the ones gushing through time, or is time cascading over us?
Sarah Woodward 