THE TIME KEEPER BELGIUM

Exploring Time Through Art

The Timekeeper exhibition presents a collection of immersive installations that challenge our perception of time, memory, and interaction. Featuring works by Anna Frants, Alexandra Dementieva, and Arnaud Jacobs, the exhibition invites viewers to engage with time as both a subjective and objective phenomenon.

“Shadows” by Anna Frants

A Subjective Concept of Time

In Shadows, Anna Frants explores the lingering presence of time through projected human shadows that do not belong to the viewer. These disembodied figures evoke memories and create a subconscious connection to an alternate reality. As viewers encounter these shifting shadows, they instinctively seek to contextualize them, forming a communal yet deeply personal experience.

The installation redefines time as an evolving concept within the viewer’s perception. Initially anchored in the present moment, visitors gradually abandon their rigid notions of time and place, engaging instead with a decontextualized reality. In this way, Shadows illustrates the fluidity of time, demonstrating how our awareness of it is constantly shaped by memory and association.

“Breathless” by Alexandra Dementieva

An Objective Concept of Time

Breathless consists of three illuminated sculptures, two of which respond to online RSS feeds while the third interacts with real-time environmental data. The first sculpture glows in response to words related to “fear,” while the second reacts to words associated with “desire.” The third sculpture captures street sounds and wind patterns, translating them into light.

Visitors become part of the installation as their breath alters the illumination patterns. This act of breathing—ordinarily an unconscious function—becomes a deliberate expression, visualized through shifting light intensities. By converting an invisible, biological act into a tangible display, Breathless highlights the intersection of life, time, and existence. The installation serves as a metaphor for the cyclical nature of time, illuminating the tension between light and dark, presence and absence, the finite and the infinite.

“Glaz-Maton” by Arnaud Jacobs

The Sound of Time

Arnaud Jacobs’ Glaz-Maton transforms the traditional music box into a personal instrument that creates a unique melody for each visitor. The installation consists of modified music boxes driven by motors, each producing a distinct sound. Inspired by John Cage’s “prepared piano” concept, Jacobs manipulates the mechanics of the music boxes to alter their resonance and tonality.

The melodies generated are based on biometric data captured from the visitor, including iris color, heartbeat rate, and hand humidity. These inputs determine the pitch, tempo, and pauses in the composition, making each piece an auditory snapshot of the individual’s physiological state. By translating the body’s rhythms into sound, Glaz-Maton offers an intimate and ephemeral reflection of time as experienced in a singular moment.

Through these thought-provoking installations, The Time Keeper exhibition invites audiences to reconsider the nature of time—not as a fixed measurement, but as a fluid, personal, and interactive experience.