Available for purchase: 600 USD
In the 1950s, as tensions escalated during the Cold War, governmental civil defense organizations in several countries distributed Geiger counters to prepare citizens for the potential threat of nuclear warfare. This initiative reflected a societal urgency to empower individuals with the means to gauge their safety in an uncertain geopolitical landscape, highlighting the pervasive anxiety surrounding the threat of nuclear conflict.
Artist Keith Francis has thoughtfully repurposed a vintage civil defense Geiger counter by integrating a quartz clock into the device. This artistic intervention serves as a poignant symbol of the pressing issues associated with nuclear warfare and the relentless passage of time in the face of existential threats. The addition of the clock signifies not only the countdown to potential disaster but also the temporal nature of fear and anxiety surrounding nuclear proliferation.
By transforming a once utilitarian object into a thought-provoking work of art, Francis compels viewers to reflect on the historical context of nuclear anxiety while also inviting contemplation on the present-day implications of nuclear technology and its impact on societal consciousness. This fusion of the Geiger counter and the clock creates a powerful dialogue about the legacy of the Cold War era, the endurance of memories shaped by fear, and the ongoing relevance of these themes in contemporary discourse on global security and human resilience in the face of ceaseless apprehension.
