Did you see Christian Marclay's 'The Clock'?
I fell a little in love.
I was captivated.
The same way 'Rage' can lure me into hours of music videos, The Clock lured me into minutes, partial minutes, of celluloid heaven. Each clip imploring me to wait, just to see what the next (song) movie scene will be.
My kids loved it too. Like a Where's Wally of time references for them, they too became lost in the discovery.
If you don't know, 'The Clock' is a delightful progression from Marclays earlier film art of 'Telephones' and 'Video Quartet', a montage of movie clips from around the world – their common denominator being a reference to the time, be it verbal or visual, but it is real time.
'Real time' as in, a 24 hour time keeper, with clips changing at least once per minute, perfectly blended together with a score from, and embracing, the movies themselves and seamlessly editing them into the one, beautiful performance.
We first sat in for a viewing (at The Museum of Contemporary Art back in May) between 10am and 11am, and it was so addictive! We had to leave then, but couldn't stop chatting about it. Dissecting it. Wondering what it would be like at other times of day, and how the movie genres might change as the time changes.
To view the full 24 hours would truly be a labour of love.
But what about the team of researchers**, and the artist himself? What an incredible journey that must have been, and I wonder if their experience of the finished product would be tainted at all by the hours they would have invested in it's creation?
Evan suggested that it would make a great clock at home.
I have to agree.
The ultimate timepiece on the wall!
It was decided then, that we would return for a late night session. Ambitious, considering my children usually have an 8pm bedtime, but we were keen and I just happened to have earned myself (with a story I wrote) two nights of luxury at the Shangri-La.
We booked in to include the last 24 hour viewing of The Clock, and the Vivid festival.
Being the last night, the queue was impressive, but we waited patiently, getting in shortly before 6pm, then again at about 11pm, and finishing off with another peek the next morning.
I felt tension and urgency while watching those clocks.
Watching the time go by so quickly.
If you've ever been in a classroom, or a dull office, or waiting for a train, you'll know what I mean about time going slowly. But if you watch this video installation you become acutely aware of the time, and you don't want it to go so fast. You make a mental note of what time you will watch to, but then regret having to leave.
It's not just a movie, it's an incredible experience.
Riveted and enthralled
(and seemingly quite obsessed)
I can only say I would love to see the whole thing one day.
The room at the Shangri-La was
Wow!
I surprised the kids, and unlike the more recent sailing surprise, this one was a winner…
Views from the toilet towards Balmain,
and from the bath overlooking a cruise ship at Barangaroo…
From the bedrooms…
The icons
I love the Shangri-La, and I'm so lucky to have stayed at both the Sydney and Fijian ones a number of times, but this room, and all it's perks (of the food and drink variety – yum) being a reward for my effort…..
So Good!
And for all of those people who think Sydney is expensive….
MCA, and 'The Clock' was free.
(the hotel was free – in this case, at least)
Vivid – Sydney's festival of lights – is free
and Sydney CBD has free buses,
one of which we caught to visit the free, coolest park in Sydney, at Darling Harbour, and the Chinese Gardens (which is free, for kids)
This park is very interactive and so fun. Lot's of water-play to suit all ages, as well as climbing and swinging to suit the big kids too!
And I'd never been to the Chinese Gardens, but it's a lovely oasis…
I'm torn over this bamboo, though….
I love the visual of the graffiti but, particularly in such a peaceful place, I deplore the action of it.
Tummies rumbled and the call went out for an old favourite…
No Names – still unchanged since I used to go there with Sonny.
In fact, it was on a visit with Sonny over 20 years ago, that I had spotted the future father of my kids. Spooky, eh!
It's not changed (he did, heheh).
Well, maybe the prices, just a little…
I love The Rocks. I love to potter during the day…
…and I always love to see The Rocks lit up for Vivid…
My hands-down favourite, two years running, Customs House…
So great! It's difficult to show in a picture, but amazing nonetheless.
What a fantastic couple of days!
What a perfect holiday in my home town!
*This post could also be called "Free Sydney", and not because it's in need of liberation.
**I was surprised to see I knew one of the researchers. He has agreed to answer my thousand probing questions, and this accounts for the fact that I am writing a couple of months after the experience, but I still await his response (and don't blame if he doesn't)… You'll know the answers as soon as I do…
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