OVERCLOCK

Temporal Critique and Visual Installation

OVERCLOCK is a functioning clock that visualizes the life of Mario, an imaginary individual navigating the demands of a capitalist society. Inspired by the concept of overclocking in computing — pushing systems beyond safe limits for higher performance — the project draws a parallel to how capitalism drives the human body past its natural rhythms. The clock tracks the interplay between melatonin (sleep hormone) and cortisol (stress hormone), key regulators of the circadian rhythm, our internal biological clock. Modern habits such as excessive screen time, lack of sunlight, caffeine consumption, and chronic overwork disrupt this rhythm, leading to dysrhythmia, burnout, and in severe cases, physical collapse.

By portraying Mario's life as a looped cycle of overextended days, OVERCLOCK critiques the notion of time as a neutral, repetitive unit. Instead, it emphasizes its accumulative impact on the body and mind under capitalist pressure — each day not simply repeating, but layering exhaustion and stress until breakdown.