The Penumbra Clock

Seeing the passage of time in hints of warm color that appear as through a frosted veil.

Poetic design meets minimalism in the Penumbra Clock. Designed in 2020 by Dutch studio Scholten & Baijings for MoMA, this timepiece translates the passage of time in an artistic, expressive form. Similarly to the studio’s past work, the minimalist wall clock showcases a masterful use of color and imaginative ideas, brought together in an elegant design. From the very first glance, Penumbra dares the viewer to reassess the way they see time. The convex front piece has a frosted finish, blurring the three hands. With no letters, numbers, or even lines, the current time is shown only through color.

All three hands have tips finished with a neon orange hue, appearing delicately around the edge of the dial. As the second hand moves in a circle, it brings the design to life without disrupting its almost ethereal presence. Like the front, the back piece has a convex shape and also boasts the same orange color. As a result, the Penumbra Clock casts a warm, sunny glow on the wall. The use of convex pieces also makes the timepiece seem like it floats in front of the flat surface of the wall, hovering above the floor. Perfect for minimalist spaces, the clock subtly blurs the passage of time and thus puts the focus on bringing color into daily life and on letting go of precision in favor of living in the moment. Discover the Penumbra Clock in the Gessato Design Store.