Inspirations
INSPIRATIONS
The Curse of Time series is inspired by the Corpus Christi Chronophage clock in Kings Parade, Cambridge and Juniper Artland’s Crystal Grotto in Wilkieston, Scotland: The Light Pours out of Me, by artist Anya Gallaccio.
Anya Gallaccio is a British artist born in 1963 who creates minimalist installations working with organic matter. Anya Gallaccio: The Light Pours out of Me – Jupiter Artland
Both creations were intended to be beautiful but unsettling. On first encountering the clock and the grotto, I was overcome with conflicting emotions. The chronophage’s disturbing nature, characterised by the grasshopper’s pincer-sharp teeth, continues long after the grotto’s initial strangeness.
These are incredible visions of creativity and well worth a visit. The above photo depicts the grasshopper of the chronophage gobbling time. Photo courtesy of Dr John C Taylor OBE.
The Corpus Christi Chronophage is a popular tourist attraction located on Kings Parade in Cambridge, UK, and is one of the most incredible creations I have ever seen. It was invented by the esteemed inventor, Dr John C Taylor, OBE, who I had the pleasure of meeting in September 2017. It was an extraordinarily inspiring moment, and one I will treasure forever.
Who would have thought I would have the opportunity to spend time with one of the greatest living inventors of our time? This intriguing gentleman is also a pilot, adventurer, photographer, architect and philanthropist. His striking invention, the Chronophage clock was one of Time’s Best Inventions of 2008. Dr Taylor invested five years and £1 million in the Corpus Clock project, and a team of two hundred people, including engineers, sculptors, scientists, jewellers, and calligraphers were involved in its creation.
Also, I was thrilled to be invited to a Horology Hour online talk… on Midsummer’s Day, June 24, 2020, with Dr Taylor. It was fascinating!
Find out more about Dr Taylor, OBE, here: h***:://www.johnctaylor.com/the-chronophage/
And on my blog here:
https://mjmallon.com/2017/09/17/poetry-inspired-by-the-dragon-chronopage-colleens-weekly-poetry-challenge-no-50-haiku-tanka-haibun-voice-watch/
I’d also like to mention Clowns Café, which briefly appears in this novel. Clowns was a well-known and much-loved café in Cambridge that had been a popular spot for 30 years and has since closed, following the death of its original owner. It was such a striking café, so full of character and, of course, clowns that it inspired me to include it in this novel. I’m not sure what readers will make of my interpretation of “clowns” but I hope that visitors and old friends of the café and their family may allow me a little artistic jiggery-pokery! I hope they and you enjoy!
