William Kentridge - "The Refusal of Time"

I went to the MOMA to see William Kentridge's exhibit entitled "The Refusal of Time." It was on the second floor, and the installation was comprised of a mechanical, moving wooden centerpiece with five screens around it. The screens were all very large, and showed different scenes of animation, filming, and even music. At first, each screen just showed five different clocks, all moving at different rhythms, which gradually sped up in an exponential fashion. The scenes then show an old man walking amongst book pages, then cuts to different figures speaking different storylines. Finally, an empty black space is shown, with white figures appearing that seem to allude to stars. Finally, an animation shows with black silohuettes.

The wooden sculpture in the center was a very complex and impressive piece of work. It contained many parts and was huge. It reminded me of an engine of sorts, especially one with steampunk aesthetics and themes.

"The Refusal of Time" is referencing the fact that everyone knows that they're going to die, but of course will try to resist death with every instinct and action. I looked up what Kentridge said about the exhibit, and he stated that it wasn't about escaping mortality itself, but escaping the pressures that mortality imposes onto us. I think that time and death go hand-in-hand, and by giving this concept of escaping mortality the name of refusing time, Kentridge does something very interesting and unexpected to set up the frame behind his exhibit.