An hourglass is a device that has been used since antiquity, and is still being used in our everyday lives, its shape barely changing over thousands of years.
With the advent of digital clocks, the hourglass has transitioned from serving a functional role to convey more of a sentimental value, symbolizing the idea of time.
By examining this simple mechanism of sand falling through a constricted passage due to gravity, and altering the speed and the angle, one can actually change the perception of the flow of time.
In other words, the concept of this collection could be said to be “designing time itself”.
The four different hourglasses were carved out from a volume of transparent acrylic.
The interior cavities to accumulate the sand have been polished by hand with fine metal needles tipped with abrasives.
This production method gives the shapes an almost natural, organic appearance, resembling clouds and puddles, conveying the feeling that time is moving even more freely than it was before.
2. time converted
The angles of the chambers control the movement of the sand; on the way going, sand travels down the right path counting “two minutes”. Once flipped over, and the sand is coming back, it is directed to the left route that counts only “one minute”.
Produced
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2017
MEDIUM/ MATERIAL
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Acrylic resin
DIMENSIONS
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30 x 36 x 30 cm
Oki Sato And The Work Of nendo
There is a certain dynamic tranquillity about the work of nendo – Oki Sato’s esteemed Tokyo and Milan-based design firm. Their projects are thoroughly contemporary executions of clean, crisp and refined design with a touch of eccentricity and a delightfully playful spirit. With a portfolio that encompasses the disciplines of architecture, product design, interior design and art installation, there are few places were nendo dares not to venture.