Clock – Zero 1990

Mladen Stilinovic made this “Clock – Zero” using an ordinary clock, placing it on a simple wooden support, and covering both with white paint. The act of painting transforms these everyday objects, each now bearing the mark of his hand. The clock, once a symbol of productivity and the relentless march of capitalist time, is rendered useless. The numbers have disappeared, replaced by a blank, painted surface that seems to absorb light. The wooden support echoes this simplicity, its rough texture softened by the same all-encompassing white. Stilinovic seems to challenge our assumptions about labor, value, and the constant demand for production. By nullifying the clock's function, he questions the social structures that govern our lives. This humble piece reminds us that meaning resides not just in materials, but in the concepts and acts of refusal that they can embody.