Artist Christian Marclay is interviewed at Berlin's Neue Nationalgalerie ahead of his exhibition "The Clock," a 24-hour single-channel video installation that runs through January 25, 2026. The artwork is a meticulously edited collage of film clips, each showing a timepiece or time-related action, synchronized in real-time so that the film's time matches the viewer's actual time. Marclay discusses his long-standing interest in time, the project's origins in the early 2000s, and his process of deconstructing and linking found footage, emphasizing the crucial role of sound in smoothing transitions.
The exhibition matters because "The Clock" is a landmark contemporary artwork that transforms the viewer's relationship with time, merging cinematic narrative with lived experience. Marclay's innovative use of found footage and real-time synchronization challenges traditional notions of film and installation art, while his broader oeuvre—spanning punk rock, experimental performances, and cyanotype prints—highlights his enduring exploration of sound and temporality. The show at a major museum like Neue Nationalgalerie underscores the work's continued relevance and its ability to engage audiences in a deeply immersive, time-bound encounter.