Countdown

RPG Maker MV programmed audio installation, random duration.

The idea for Countdown was born from a personal research about Degenerative mitral valve disease, a slowly developing heart condition which leads to mitral valve prolapse and finally, to heart failure. Although it´s believed that there´s a genetic component to it, its causes are still relatively unknown, and it´s usually diagnosed later in life.

This information got me thinking about the disease as a hidden clock counting down the patient´s remaining life, unseen and unpredictable. I found the idea of being aware of the progressive degeneration of one´s own body but unable to tell exactly how far along it has progressed quite unsettling, and I wanted my work to reproduce that feeling. After a bit of reflection, I decided to extend the clock metaphor from the degeneration of disease to that of aging, something that is relatable to everyone. I also wanted to incorporate an element of randomness and unpredictability into the work to maximize the sense of anticipation and anxiety.

The final piece is a ticking audio file controlled by a program that randomly decides for how long to play it. At the end of its “lifespan”, the clock chimes and stops, leaving just an eerie silence. The work is most effective if placed in a completely dark room, away from any distraction from the idea of impending death.