Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a graphite drawing by John Hodany. It dates from 2003 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 2003, this untitled work by John Hodany consists of five sheets of paper that have been cut, rearranged and adhered to a light‑blue field. The composition presents three miniature scenes in which stacked boxes bear digital clocks, each displaying a different time. The background is rendered as a fine grid of tiny squares, giving the piece an almost diagrammatic quality.
Subject & Meaning
The work juxtaposes ordinary objects—boxes and digital timepieces—to explore the fragmented perception of time. By arranging the clocks on stepped platforms, Hodany suggests a layered chronology, where each unit operates independently, some frozen, others advancing, prompting viewers to consider the simultaneity and disjunction inherent in contemporary temporal experience.
Technique & Style
Hodany employs synthetic polymer paint, colored pencil and graphite to delineate forms with flat, precise edges. The cut‑and‑pasted paper technique creates a collage‑like surface, while the meticulous rendering of the grid and clock faces evokes the aesthetic of technical diagrams, emphasizing clarity over painterly gesture.
History & Provenance
The piece entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art shortly after its completion, becoming part of MoMA’s holdings of early‑2000s contemporary drawing. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s interest in artists who interrogate everyday objects through minimalist visual strategies.
Context
Hodany’s practice frequently incorporates clocks, timers and other mundane devices, situating this work within a broader investigation of how time is measured and represented in visual culture. The piece aligns with early‑21st‑century trends that blend drawing, collage and conceptual concerns about temporality.
Artist & collection
