MUSEUMS OF TIME

North Somerset, 07.04.25

At the northern edge of Tehran is a Museum of Time and visitors can view an astonishing array of objects and instruments that have enabled wo/mankind to frame, predict and measure the passing of hours, days, months and years using sun, sand, water, wax and mechanics. We talked about how our perception of time can be altered through the focus and absorption in using typewriters and this is something that guest artist Mitoshka Alkova brought with her to the table today.

In each conversation and typed on paper throughout today’s session we found that time played an important part, including how we store and recall memories, and the ability to project hope through time so that it almost leaps over obstacles to come. A man shared photographs of his partner, and mother who now has Alzheimer’s - he worries that she will forget him but we had room to think about how some memory can be stored experientially.

Another man shared his story of life-long struggles and how he has navigated his way through numerous and complex challenges under political oppression, all of which have required a great deal of waiting, being patient, holding on, trusting in himself and his beliefs.

Letters were written as messages to the self, to imagined audiences to people separated from and lost, and perhaps enabled a way of imagining and connecting that had not been available before. We were appreciative of the enrichment and energy that came from our guest artist joining us at The Community Table today @mitoshkaa and how the staff continue to play an integral part in wider engagement across the accommodation, each person bringing their own - and moments other’s - living archive.

Words by Amy Wilson, Sarah Robinson & Mitoshka Alkova.

Image 03 - artwork by @mitoshkaa