ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

10 artist-designed gadgets to track time

other · 2026-05-04

Artribune presents a selection of ten artist-designed gadgets and objects that play with the concept of time, ranging from a faithful reproduction of Hermione's Time-Turner from Harry Potter to a minimalist wall clock by French artist Bina Baitel. The list includes the Anaptar circular calendar, a cuckoo clock inspired by Salvador Dalí, a miniature DeLorean from Back to the Future, a board game for the Fuorisalone, a customizable NYC subway sign, Omoshiro Blocks paper sculptures, a first-aid kit designed as a clock by SWNA, and the Albert Clock that requires solving equations. The article, written by Valentina Tanni, was published in Artribune Magazine #42.

Key facts

  • Hermione's Time-Turner reproduction in 24-karat gold is available at harrypottershop.com.
  • Bina Baitel's Lash Lock wall clock uses filaments to indicate time.
  • Anaptar calendar displays seasonal data, solstices, equinoxes, and moon distance.
  • Dalí-inspired cuckoo clock is made entirely of wood in Italy and sold at store.moma.org.
  • Miniature DeLorean from Back to the Future is available at thinkgeek.com.
  • Fuorisalone board game is designed by Studiolabo with Cranio Creations.
  • The NYC Train Sign is a customizable electronic subway sign from a Brooklyn startup.
  • Omoshiro Blocks by Triad contain paper sculptures revealed as pages are used.
  • SWNA designed a first-aid kit disguised as an elegant clock.
  • Albert Clock requires solving equations to tell time.

Entities

Artists

  • Bina Baitel
  • Salvador Dalí
  • Valentina Tanni

Institutions

  • Artribune
  • Harry Potter Shop
  • Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
  • Studiolabo
  • Cranio Creations
  • Triad
  • SWNA
  • Albert Clock

Locations

  • Italy
  • Brooklyn
  • Seoul
  • Japan

Sources