Travellers passing through Amsterdam Airport Schiphol often expect long queues and busy terminals, but one Indian visitor found something entirely different a captivating art installation that tells time in the most unusual way. Known as the “Human Watch”, the giant clock instantly stood out for its creative design and lifelike illusion.
Viral Video on Instagram
The traveller, SK Ali, recorded and shared the installation on Instagram. In his video, he pointed to a giant transparent clock where instead of regular moving hands, a man could be seen drawing and erasing the clock’s needles every minute. At one point, the time read 6:10, and just moments later it shifted to 6:11.
“Look what I have just seen. It’s amazing,” Ali said in his video. The caption of his post further explained, “At Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, a giant transparent clock fascinates travelers with its unique design. Instead of mechanical hands, a man inside the clock appears to paint and erase the hands every minute, creating the illusion of real-time updates.”
The Artwork Behind the Illusion
Officially titled “Real Time”, the Human Watch was created by Dutch artist Maarten Baas. The installation uses a 12-hour video loop, where a man is shown repeatedly painting and wiping away the hands of the clock on a translucent screen. This creative design gives the impression that someone is trapped inside the clock, manually keeping time minute by minute.
The video, uploaded on September 7, 2025, quickly went viral, attracting over 1.1 million views along with thousands of comments. Viewers from across the world reacted with a mix of awe, humour, and curiosity.
Blending Art with Everyday Life
The “Human Watch” has now become an unexpected attraction at Schiphol Airport. More than just a way of telling time, it demonstrates how art can transform ordinary public spaces into places of creativity and wonder.
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