Hourglass

Maria Finkelmeier

Hourglass explores our fleeting relationship with time—its lessons and its challenges. How do we feel a minute? A second? A decade? What have we learned, only to unlearn years, or even moments, later? A live performance work for marimba, electronics, voice, and generative visuals, Hourglass immerses audiences in each nuanced musical gesture, revealing the ephemeral nature of the present. Part of the larger Former Self catalogue—an ongoing series of works that share stories with our past selves—Hourglass sets the tone for this introspective journey, inviting listeners into a reflective yet awe-inspired state. Premiered at the MassArt Art Museum and later performed at the American University of Sharjah (UAE) and the Museum of Science, Boston, the piece continues to evolve with each iteration. By emphasizing touch, sound, and movement, the work brings human presence to the forefront of a digital environment. While its framework is consistent, each performance of Hourglass is distinct and everchanging, just as our physical selves adapt and are reshaped with the passing of time. Moments from performances are captured and translated into prints directly from the software, videos and stills of the experiences. These become artifacts that bookmark the collective experience.

Project Collaborators:

Studio: MF Dynamics Composer, Performer, and Director: Maria Finkelmeier Visual Environments and Playback: Supreetha Krishnan Web Digital Fabrication: MAD Arts Presenter: MassArt Art Museum, Boston, Massachusetts, USA Photos Courtesy of MassArt Art Museum, by Amy Fink