Tem⋅po⋅sco⋅pi⋅um
[tɛm⋅po⋅skˈəʊ⋅pi⋅əm] noun
From the latin word tempum (“time”) and the greek word scopeo (“to guard”), the Temposcopium is a timepiece which looks like a common watch, yet is created to give Time a meaning, preserving its value without measuring it.
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The idea of the Temposcopium (along with its weird name) enlighted me in the summer of 2018: an inspiration upon the truest nature of Time, which is still a quest.
Born as little textile artworks to wear, the first Temposcopi are made of upcycled textiles, cotton threads and silver or gold findings, entirely handembroidered to recreate the appearence of a common wrist watch in which the usual dial is replaced by symbols of the multiple meanings of Time.
Since then the original idea has evolved: by now I create my Temposcopi from old watches, which I rescue and dissect, getting rid of gears, dials and all the superfluous parts. Mostly, I keep the watch shell, which is infused then with a new idea of Time, as a new life into old bones.
This process becomes itself a metaphore of the challange to the common sense of Time, which every Temposcopium represents.
Where watches get us used to think about Time as a mere dimension to measure and use, every Temposcopium is an attempt to get closer to a deeper sense of this elusive “matter” which our life is made of.