Artist explores fluidity of time in 'Human Voice as Clock'

Photo: Courtesy of Liu Xiaoyu

What is time? Is it a linear sequence of events, or a fluid phenomenon that can be influenced by the future? These are some of the questions that Liu Xiaoyu, an artist and interaction designer, seeks to answer in her work, Human Voice as Clock, which is part of the online visual exhibition, Fluid Time.

The exhibition, inspired by the philosophy of Armen Avanessian, features works that challenge the traditional notion of time as a linear progression of past, present, and future. Instead, it proposes that time is fluid, and that the future can affect the present, creating a complex and dynamic relationship between different time dimensions.

Liu’s work explores this idea by using her own voice as a clock. She recorded herself counting two minutes in various scenarios, such as lying in bed, running on a treadmill, or waiting for a bus. She then played back the recordings and measured the actual duration of each one. She found that the perceived length of time varied depending on the context, showing that time is not fixed but subjective and stretchable.

Liu’s work echoes the insights of Joan Grant, who wrote in her book Winged Pharaoh: a Far Memory book that “time is not a line but a manifold.” Liu invites viewers to reflect on their own perception of time and how it is shaped by their senses, memories, and emotions. She also challenges them to rethink their understanding of time and its implications for their lives.

Liu, born in East China’s Zhejiang Province in 1995, currently lives and works in the US. She graduated from Parsons School and has developed a multidisciplinary approach that combines art installation, performance, documentation, sound, and videos. She has exhibited her work at various prestigious platforms, such as The Research House for Asian Art, NYC Media Lab, and Maker Faire.

Fluid Time is on display at Independent & Image Art Space until December 31, 2023.