Case Studies

Sands of Time – A Sculpture Exploring the Fluidity of Time

Overview

Commissioned as a deeply conceptual and visually striking centrepiece, Sands of Time is an intricate sculpture that investigates the transient nature of time. Drawing from Rhizomatic theory and the ancient Greek notion of Kairos – time understood as a series of opportune, non-linear moments – the piece positions time as a network of fleeting, interconnected moments – unfolding not linearly, but through layered tension and spatial disruption.

Isabel Paget – Spotligth Art – July 2024

Design Concept

At the heart of the sculpture is a steel globe that acts as both structural anchor and symbolic core. Surrounding this form are seven intersecting glass hourglasses, suspended within a multidirectional lattice of lines and axes. This spatial arrangement creates a visual and conceptual interplay of opposing forces: steel and glass, strength and vulnerability, weight, and suspension.

The sculpture enacts the very instability it seeks to reflect. The steel framework offers apparent solidity, while the glass remains perpetually on the verge of shattering – held delicately by silicone joints that absorb stress and allow momentary equilibrium.

Each component exists in a state of near transformation, a choreography of contrasts. The piece challenges viewers to consider whether time ever truly settles – or whether it endlessly slips through the structures we build to hold it.