The frequently recurring clock motif shows how significant time is in Alicja Kwade’s work. The object is a reminder of the Vanitas still life tradition, where the clock functions as a memento mori, reminding viewers of the short time-span allotted to any life. The 2009 work called Watch consists of atomic clocks with an all-round mirror surface. They are mounted next to each other and float free of the wall, swaying delicately in the air. The face is concealed by the mirror surface, depriving the timepiece of its original function. Instead, the surrounding space and the viewers are reflected, and thrown silently back on themselves.