»If we want to examine the structure and quality of our life, we should turn to its time structures« – Hartmut Rosa. 

Time is a multifaceted concept grounded in the the physical world and elevated by the symbolic and philosophical ideas of mankind. It is an observation as well as a construct and a commodity. It forms a horizon of understanding where elements can form meaningful relationships. Time can also serve as a lens for evaluating social qualities.

»Modernity is about the acceleration of time,« wrote Peter Conrad. In this context, the real-time of today’s data transmission is the result of a process that began with the invention of the clock. The fact that trading companies move their headquarters towards a server farm to be able to trade on the stock exchange a fraction of a tenth of a second faster than the competition shows that not even real-time is the same as real-time. The transmitters are accelerating: the vehicles – horse – railroad – airplane – telephone – Internet. The ranges are getting longer. Space got wiped out, and time got compressed. The concept of technical acceleration is omnipresent, as is its apparent counterpart, personal deceleration.

In science and economics in particular, time is measured with a precision that is imperceptible to the human sensorium and correspondingly difficult to grasp. The idea of a fraction of a tenth of a second has little to do with one’s sense of time. Or does it? Can one consciously fall out of time? Sol (the Martian day) is 39 minutes and 35 seconds longer than on Earth. Consequently, would we have ‘gained’ time on Mars? What quality does time hold for individuals, communities, and society?

4000 Miles has evolved into a third iteration; it is a continuing collaborative project between Prof. Sydney Craig, Herron School of Art and Design in Indiana, USA, and Prof. Judith Glaser, Faculty of Design Würzburg (THWS), Bavaria, Germany. These educators are pursuing high-impact practices for engaged learning as they develop intercultural, multi-disciplinary exchanges meant to encourage and embrace a global mindset. Students from both universities will be challenged to explore the concepts of time and space through object studies and creative problemsolving as they work in teams across 4000 miles and through a variety of art and design media.

Through this collaboration, time and space will be examined formally and conceptually; teams will critically and pragmatically explore its analog and digital qualities and connect these to physical experiences.
The course will culminate in a visual art and design exhibition at Herron School of Art+Design.

I will be happy to answer questions about the course on Tuesday, 11.02.25 between 16:00 – 17:00 p.m. online at Zoom.