Relativity: A Hypnotic Clock that Adjusts Time Perception

Temporal Clock Designed by Liang-jiun Chiu

Time is a concept that is relevant to us but often seems imprecisely defined. Inspired by Albert Einstein's famous quote about relativity, Liang-jiun Chiu sought to explore the subjective experience of time. He recognized that our feelings directly affect our perception of time, which is often inconsistent with the objective time we use in our daily lives. With Relativity, Chiu invites us to imagine a world where subjective time is the measurement.

What sets Relativity apart is its ability to adjust the user's time perception. The clock is driven by a stirling engine, which operates at an unstable speed determined by the heat of the fire source. As the engine works, the clock runs at different speeds, accompanied by a series of metal clanking sounds. This combination of visual and auditory cues resets the user's time perception and provides a more appropriate sense of time for each scenario.

The design of Relativity incorporates a range of materials, including steel, aluminum, copper, glass, and ABS plastic. CNC and laser cutting technologies were used to create the intricate and customized parts. The clock's dimensions are 180 mm in width, 150 mm in depth, and 420 mm in height.

Relativity offers a unique interactive experience. To use the clock, the user lights a customized candle or spirit lamp, which serves as the energy source for the stirling engine. Once the engine is started, it drives the clock to run at different speeds based on the fire source's heat. The accompanying metal clanking sounds and the movement of the clock hands reset the user's time perception, providing a more suitable sense of time for the given scenario.

The development of Relativity took place in Taipei, starting in September 2016 and concluding in January 2017. The design was exhibited at a venue in Taipei in January 2017, captivating audiences with its thought-provoking concept and mesmerizing aesthetics.

Liang-jiun Chiu's research on time and the subjective experience of it laid the foundation for Relativity. By exploring the discrepancy between objective and subjective time, Chiu aimed to challenge our conventional understanding of time and open up new possibilities for how we perceive and interact with it.

One of the main challenges in creating Relativity was finding the right balance between fiction and reality. Chiu wanted to provide users with an engaging interactive experience while still allowing room for imagination. The decision to use a stirling engine as the clock's driver achieved this goal, offering both functionality and a sense of wonder.

Relativity is a remarkable design that addresses the annoyance of having a time perception that does not align with the physical world. By adjusting the user's time perception through a method related to hypnosis, this clock offers a personalized sense of time that fits the current scenario. It challenges our understanding of time and invites us to reconsider the role it plays in our lives.

Images:

Image #1: Photographer Junyou Liu, Relativity, 2017.

Image #2: Photographer Junyou Liu, Relativity, 2017.

Image #3: Photographer Junyou Liu, Relativity, 2017.

Image #4: Photographer Junyou Liu, Relativity, 2017.

Image #5: Photographer Junyou Liu, Relativity, 2017.

Intellectual Property Notice: Copyrights belong to Liang-jiun Chiu, 2017.

Awards and Accolades: Relativity was awarded the Bronze A' Design Award in the Fine Arts and Art Installation Design category in 2018. This prestigious award recognizes designs that demonstrate creativity, resourcefulness, and a commitment to improving quality of life through art, science, design, and technology.