Smiling Watches, an Art Collection and an Aesthetic Computer - Goodiepal’s exhibition “Stanley Brouwn & Rasmus Sørnes Joined The Guild of The Viking Klokkers”
Photo: Lyuba Boncheva
We talk about time all the time, but do we truly understand its concept? This time, next time; The right time, the wrong time; The first time, the last time; To have time, to run out of time… I can confidently say “Meet me at 6!” but what does that number actually mean?! And what is “time”, for that matter? Why does a clock on Earth move slower than one in outer space, why does time pass faster while dancing than when folding laundry?
Needless to say, I have been feeling inspired to (at least try to) unravel the mysteries of time ever since I saw Stanley Brouwn & Rasmus Sørnes Joined The Guild of The Viking Klokkers at Pachinko, an artist-run space in Oslo. The exhibition opened on 29.02.2024 (leap year day) and was envisioned by a man called Goodiepal (or Gæoudjiparl van den Dobbelsteen, or Pruttipal, or Mainpal Inv, or Parl Kristian Bjorn Vester).
Stanley Brouwn & Rasmus Sørnes Joined The Guild of The Viking Klokkers showcases a set of luxury watches, modified (or vandalized depending on one’s perspective) by Goodiepal himself, alongside pieces from his personal collection, including a drawing by David Shrigley and a painting by Sufie Elmgreen.
As I walked in, the watches were frozen precisely at 10 past 10—a trick used in watch commercials to subconsciously evoke the perception of a smile. Looking into the smiling dials, I saw the miniature universes that Goodiepal created, where kaleidoscopic magic took place, and colors, and shapes sparkled, changed, and vibrated.
Apart from having many names, Goodiepal can also be described in many ways: as a Danish-Faroese experimental electronic musician; as an artist and horologist; or as a man who cannot be reached by phone but does indeed use Skype. With his invention, the Aesthetic Computer, Goodiepal is even an AI creator. There are many experiences you can have with the Aesthetic Computer, like texting a digital boyfriend; getting a custom prayer written for you; or rocket launching yourself onto a celestial experience, where you drift through a galaxy of colorful and flickering pixel stars.
Screenshot: https://aesthetic.computer/
To travel beyond the confines of time and space, and to ask yourself some unanswerable questions, visit the exhibition Stanley Brouwn & Rasmus Sørnes Joined The Guild of The Viking Klokkers! It will be on display at Pachinko until March 31st.