Ottawa’s Kinetic Clock finds a new home at Britannia Park

Feature story

If you find yourself in Britannia Park this summer, keep an eye out for a vibrant new addition to the landscape – a large red clock that’s anything but ordinary. After more than thirty years in Ottawa’s public art scene, Kinetic Clock, a conceptual sculpture by artist Andrew Stonyer, has been fully restored and reinstalled in a setting that beautifully complements its unique design.

Some residents may recognize Kinetic Clock from its previous home on Sparks Street, where it was located for several years before being relocated.

Originally unveiled in 1989, Kinetic Clock is a hybrid of clock and sundial, blending science and art to explore the duality of time. Mechanical time is reflected by the sculpture’s moving elements, while natural time is represented through evolving shadow patterns cast by the sculpture. On the summer solstice, these shadows gradually form a square – a nod to the passage of time through nature.

Built using electronic and robotic technologies, the sculpture's planes shift and rotate every 15, 30, and 45 minutes, to align on the hour. Its one-of-a-kind function and sculptural style are reflective of Stonyer’s unique approach to art, which is influenced by mathematics, geometry, and scientific principles.

Transcript for the "A New Chapter for Ottawa’s "Kinetic Clock"" video A New Chapter for Ottawa’s “Kinetic Clock” An unusual red sculpture now stands in Britannia Park. Known as “Kinetic Clock,” it is part timepiece, part public artwork. Created by British artist Andrew Stonyer in 1989, the sculpture balances mechanical precision with natural rhythms. Its planes shift every 15, 30 and 45 minutes, while sunlight casts shadows across its surface. At the summer solstice, those shadows form a perfect square. Its location near Ron Kolbus Lakeside Centre offers ideal light, power and space for the sculpture to come to life.

A British-born artist, Stonyer’s career spans decades and countries. He studied at institutions such as the Architectural Association and Slade School of Fine Art. His PhD research, which explored the integration of solar energy into kinetic sculpture, directly influenced the creation of Kinetic Clock. Decades of exposure took their toll on the sculpture, prompting a full-scale restoration, which was undertaken by Heritage Grade, a local restoration company. The project required extensive surface repairs and repainting, however, addressing the 30-year-old electronic mechanisms was the real challenge. Fortunately, the team was able to collaborate with volunteer robotics enthusiasts in the community who offered their time and expertise.

Finding a location that met the artwork’s specific needs was no small task. Public Art staff, in collaboration with Facility Services, selected a space in Britannia Park that allows both natural sunlight for shadow casting and proximity to electrical infrastructure at the Ron Kolbus Lakeside Centre. The site also ensures long-term accessibility for maintenance.

Now reinstalled and soon to be accompanied by a bilingual interpretive plaque, Kinetic Clock invites residents and visitors to reflect and experience time in motion, one shifting shadow at a time.