This piece visually depicts the passing of time in a thirteenth century convent courtyard. Observing the courtyard for months, the differences over time become both magnified and murky. Through attempting to capture the moving shadows, a form similar to a sundial appears, marking the changes throughout the day. The convent’s bell rings unfailingly at 8am and at 7pm audibly marking the time and life of those nearby. Hourly, from 8am until the 7pm bells, I traced the outline of the shadow cast from the surrounding building walls. The process was methodical, as I shuffled around the objects in my way, and strove to work faster than the sun. My endeavor to fully capture the shadows before they moved was futile, just as the effort to capture life in a moment before it changes. The use of chalk to outline the shadows was intentional due to its impermanence. The courtyard will evolve just as the installation will change and eventually dissipate from people’s footsteps and rainy weather.
