Dauerhaft

The video work ‘Dauerhaft’ (Permanent) by Clemens Wittkowski captures the feeling of permanent tension in a very symbolic way. We see a brightly lit metronome (a metronome, from the Greek metron “measure“ and nomos “law“ sets a constant tempo through acoustic impulses at regular time intervals). The pendulum swings back and forth, but the sound is not the typical clicking of a pendulum, but sharp beating and whipping in time. This irritating interplay causes discomfort and hits a nerve: people function almost without pause. Life can become a kind of restless self- mortification. A mental prison in which blows and blows threaten to become stronger and stronger. ‘Dauerhaft’ (Permanent). For life. Is there a way out? Above all, the conscious decision to stop or to commit can make a difference.