A Letter to Christian Marclay

Dear Mr. Marclay,

In 2006, when I was 16, I traveled to the Tate Modern. I remember being slightly dumbfounded by the space, and also curious of the potential and possibility. In 2006 at the Tate Modern, your work "Video Quartet" was on display. I had never heard of you before then, but what I did hear coming from the other side of a dark wall was a mesmerizing cacophony, and something I will never forget. I always tell people that in the year 2007 I decided to become an art history major, but I am starting to recall my life's events, and I am realizing that this is not the truth. The moment I decided to become an art history major was the moment I watched your video piece.

There is something about the archival qualities of your video work that speak to me and how I perceive art, and of course the fact that I am a lover and appreciator of sound helps as well. The amazing thing about me walking into that piece is that I usually never give video work the time of day (that I should) and this is mainly because I hate walking into dark spaces by myself. I'm being very honest here, because my views have changed somewhat (due to an exhibition of works by William Kentridge) in the past few years. Usually I would never walk into video spaces in museums because they are so dark, but for some reason I was drawn to your video space, and now I respect it and honor it.

The reason I am writing you this letter now is because I am aware of your newest work "The Clock" which is on display at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art at present. If I am not mistaken, the piece spans a 24 hour cycle. This is interesting to me based on my experience with "Video Quartet" in 2006. Once I stumbled upon the piece, I didn't leave until I thought my parents would start to worry. I watched it at least three times through, and I could have stayed longer, but I'm unsure of whether or not I can sit through a 24-hour piece. I want to, believe me... I really want to see it all the way through, but I don't know if I have the time or energy.

I will be at the museum this Sunday, and I will view any part of the piece that is playing when I am there, but I, unfortunately, cannot stay for 24 hours to watch the full cycle. So I am proposing this... In this day and age, many students of art and art history are no longer relying on libraries and slide archives to look at work, instead we use the internet to do our research and learn more about whatever it is we need to know. Why don't you display two cycles of the clock on the internet (48 hours only) so that if we want to watch the entire piece, we can potentially do so from our computers and monitors at home? I know that half the experience of viewing the work is viewing it in a setting that the artist has approved of, but let me at least say this: I'm sure Leonardo da Vinci never thought the Mona Lisa would be the most recognized art piece in the world, plastered on walls and turned into postcards... or framed "prints" so that everyone could have her face on their wall.

I intend to write a review of what I have time to see of "The Clock" on Sunday... here... on my art blog, but I can guarantee you this, my question will remain the same: When are you going to post it all online (even if just for one cycle) so I can watch it in entirety?

Regardless of whether or not I am able to watch the entire 24 hours of your piece, I must say this: You will always remain my true inspiration in wanting to spend so much time looking at art, and I will always respect and love your work, video, music, still or other.

So thank you, Christian Marclay, for being a mentor (of sorts) to me.
And I will see you in just a few days time in the form of The Clock.


Love,
Aves