There are two main ways in which time can be portrayed in art. The first is representation. According to the text, “representation is the symbolic process by which an artwork refers to a subject beyond itself” (Robertson 36). Representation is more about catching/portraying one snapshot in time. The subject can be about any theme in combination with the theme of time.

Robertson states in the text that this piece, called Demo, by Heide Fasnacht, “represents the explosion of a building as a suspended moment in time” (Robertson 34). Photography was a key development in representing time, as it allowed for artists to show an extracted moment from real time (Stopping Time: Bullet through Apple).

The second way in which time can be portrayed is through embodiment. Robertson defines embodiment as the integration of time itself in to the actual piece. There is more than one way in which time can be integrated into the piece. While less common, static pieces can portray time by showing time as a theme (Persistence of Memory, Salvador Dali), or the incorporation of old objects that evoke a feeling of antiquity, as shown in various Whitfield Lovell’s pieces (this particular piece incorporating old bullet shells along with a charcoal drawing).


Another way to embody time into art is through the use video pieces that demonstrate fluid or kinetic change over time.

Because time can be illustrated in such a variety of ways, I believe that it is not only one of the most interesting themes, but also one of the most important themes to address. Time is inevitable, leaving artists with a wealth of ways in which to express their feeling of it: through embodiment or representation, with the use of kinetic or static pieces. It encompasses many all forms of art, from 3d pieces to videos to painting. The theme is all-inclusive, making it an almost necessary topic for every artist to address.