The Time Tunnel: A Nostalgic Journey
There is a specific kind of appreciation reserved for the television shows we watched as children - a shimmering, slightly distorted nostalgia that makes the screen feel larger than life. For me, that magic was Irwin Allen’s The Time Tunnel.
During my elementary school summer breaks, the show was in syndication, and it felt like a communal experience; everyone I knew was watching. As a child, I was convinced the show was endless. Despite it actually running for only a single 30-episode season, my memory insists it was a sprawling epic. To say I loved it would be an understatement. It had everything: adventure, high-stakes drama, and snapshots of history. Even watching it today, I am still genuinely impressed by the set design and the concept, and I am still moved by the iconic opening theme and those swirling, hypnotic graphics.
The show that inspired the artwork
That show was the spark that ignited my lifelong love affair with science fiction. My fascination only deepened in my early teens, thanks in part to my dad, who brought home Philip K. Dick’s UBIK when I was 10. After that, I was totally hooked.
Me at 7 and my brother at 4 at the piano
Memory as Architecture
In my latest piece, titled "The Time Tunnel," I’ve placed my younger brother and myself directly inside the narrative of those formative years.
I am 7 years old, and reluctantly practicing the piano. My piano teacher lived in the apartment directly above us, and she would often comment on my lack of practice. (She wasn't wrong.) It turns out, however, that my musical education wasn't entirely wasted. While I was the one taking the lessons, my brother blossomed into a talented musician (and a bioinformatics researcher), now with several albums to his name.
The piano was only a few steps away from the TV room, where we would settle in to watch our favorite shows. My mom would make us our favorite snack - pretzels served with a side dip of cream cheese and strawberry jam.
Stepping Into the Maze
This artwork acts as a physical manifestation of that memory. You will notice a 1970s doorbell incorporated into the piece - a lucky eBay find that looks almost identical to the one we had in our home. If you press it, you might just activate the tunnel itself.
You may find yourself lost in that swirling maze of past and future ages, during the first experiments of America’s greatest and most secret project. You tumble helplessly toward a new fantastic adventure, somewhere along the infinite corridors of time.
Artwork Specifications
Series: Retro-Causation
Title: The Time Tunnel
Completed: June 7, 2026
Dimensions: 16 x 16 inches
Foundation: Wood panel, acrylic sheet, and foam-core
Mediums: Acrylic and found object
Sculptural Elements: Polymer clay
Finishing Touches: Crystals and resin
