“Untitled” (Perfect Lovers) by Felix Gonzalz-Torres
(1987–1990) Two identical battery-powered analog clocks, mounted side-by-side on a wall so they are touching, initially set to the same time. As the batteries run out, the clocks will fall out of sync. When one of the clocks stops entirely, the piece is reset.
Conceived shortly after Gonzalez-Torres’ partner, Ross Laycock, was diagnosed with AIDS. “This piece I made with the two clocks was the scariest thing I have ever done. I wanted to face it. I wanted those two clocks right in front of me, ticking.”
[Some private content has been omitted.]