„Roads shape our modern, mobile world. A large part of the inhabited area is sealed and left to motorized traffic. What is being criticized today for overheating the cities was originally a stroke of genius.
The Swiss pulmonologist Dr. Ernest Guglielminetti proposed to seal the roads, which were becoming increasingly dusty due to increasing road traffic, with tar. In 1902, according to his plans, the first 40 meters of pavement were put in place in Monte Carlo. This is how the Swiss came by his nickname Dr. Goudron (French for tar).
This story from the long list of Swiss inventions, but also the controversy about the material itself, I found enormously exciting. Because tar contains carcinogenic substances, it was banned in Switzerland from 1991 onwards and asphalt, a mixture of bitumen and rock was used.
Asphalt can be deformed with heat. The Asphalt-Clock takes advantage of this property. I heated up broken flooring from Zurich construction sites (Usteristrasse and Rigistrasse) and reshaped it. The result is a simple, deep black table clock with an irregular and unique structure. The controversially discussed and omnipresent material is upgraded – upcycling instead of just recycling. From the street into the living room.
And so the chunk of asphalt is to be understood as food for thought, as a witness to our contradictory world, and as a reminder that our constant acceleration is still kicking up dust. The clock is ticking.“
First series of 3 handmade pieces
