About 1 — YARA + DAVINA

CLOCK WORK
A series of twelve perspex clocks and one largescale di-bond clock, 2025

In 2024 Policy Lab commissioned us as part of their experimental MANIFEST programme, in which artists explore participation and policy making within the central government. MANIFEST follows the example set by Artists Placement Group (APG) who similarly inquired into the relationship between artists and policymakers through various projects from the 1960s into 80s. We were placed as Artists in Residence at Adur & Worthing Council, over 12 months. We worked with the councils’ staff to explore the value of time and how they use it, as a way to explore what was most important to them, during a time of significant change. Our participatory sessions and deep, responsive listening opened up conversations about time, trust, values and the future of their work.

We created CLOCK WORK; a playful series of 12 wall clocks dotted around the councils’ offices and meeting rooms and 1 large scale clock in Worthing Town Hall. The large clock, placed in a civic space, acts as a manifesto of sorts, where the council commits to the core values and ideals placed on the clock face.

We will be speaking at Modern Art Oxford on 6th June 2025 discussing “What role can artists play in local government?” as part of The Sculpture X Policy Lab: Artists, Policymaking and Place.

What People Are Saying about Clock Work

“Fascinating result of multiple ways of thinking about time, and drawing people's attention to ways of spending it.”

“I thought the clocks are really useful to have in all offices and meeting rooms to gently nudge us to focus on the values we can all forget.”

“CLOCK WORK explores the interplay of emotions, personal considerations and difficult decisions in shaping policy, as well as how we can embed reflective moments into everyday life and work”

“The clocks are so cool, I feel they act as parameters set by the department, to come back home to what matters.”

“Very much enjoyed the Time For piece. Time is often quantified, counted and slipped away. We log into time sheets, and ensure we are in the right meetings and rooms. We spend it as if it is a tradable commodity but in reality it is something that passes by once and we must make human decisions about how we behave in that time that we are given.”