The Reversing Machine: A Theatre of Kairos and Chronos

For the Arts Laboratory Berlin we will install a time machine ; with which we will attempt to manipulate the fabric of time in the space of the gallery.

The central device of this collaborative work (literally and figuratively comprising the functioning core) is a kinetic sculpture in the form of a self-reversing gearbox mechanism which will trigger and power various looping devices. As the drive shaft is powered the output turns at a steady rate for a certain amount of time then stops and quickly starts to turn in the opposite direction for the same amount of time; a mechanical palindrome. This behaviour is entirely determined by the mechanism, (not by any kind of digital controller) and is consequently completely transparent - revealing both the what and the how of its action. This will be our Time-Setter. Driven in turn by this device will be an ongoing repertoire of looped “behaviours” - sounds, images, kinetics, streams of instants - flowing first in one direction then another and at each reversal assuming subtly different relationships to one another. These we will gradually build up over the first part of the exhibition, sampling the city and the first invited visitors to the space. During this period we will also invite other artists and throughout the period of the show we would like to engage a philosopher-in-residence to carry out observations and critique.

There will be a longer period of reflections in which the work will constantly change and re-combine, at intervals generating unique and significant alignments and conjunctions. Finally there will be a period of slow subtraction and dis-assembly until finally only the Mechanism and the Memory remain.