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"The ancient Greeks made no distinction between "art" or "craft". To them the word "techne" signified the integration of both. This in a nutshell is the essence of what I set out to achieve.........." Will Matthysen's interest in clocks and his adaptation of woodworking skills has resulted in sculptural works which celebrate the qualities of wood as well as the intricate mechanisms and precision engineering associated with clocks. His earlier clocks were free-form pieces that operated as kinetic sculptures and automata, through to works that are timepieces which include other functions such as strike train and lunar dial. As such, his work lies at the intersection of two craft traditions, namely wood/furniture on the one hand and metal/clock making on the other, where techniques and materials overlap, taking techniques normally reserved for one and applying it to the other. The final product is a synthesis of these techniques. To his mind a clock should be well proportioned, finely crafted, function smoothly and quietly, and be a joy to use. Will Matthysen's work also involves the fusion of two divergent ways of thinking, namely the logical, precise and the mechanical on the one hand, and the lateral, organic and open-ended on the other. So in essence the mechanism becomes the vehicle by which other ideas and agendas can be expressed. The bulk of the mechanism is made of native Australian timbers finished to exhibit their natural qualities, and other materials such as high density fibreboard, phenolic resin, brass and steel where appropriate. The wheels and pinions are mounted on steel arbors, and the pivots run in adjustable brass bushes friction fitted in the wood clock plates. The entire clock movement can be dissembled for future service of repair, and is fully adjustable. All the clocks are fitted with a John Harrison type maintaining power, which ensures the clock keeps running during winding. The accuracy of the clocks are in the order of 5 seconds a day. This accuracy is dependant on a number of factors, such as the type of escapement mechanism used, the consistency of the power source, the design and stability of the pendulum and bob, and the overall smooth operation of the wheel train. Most of the clocks employ the anchor escapement mechanism as it is provides easy adjustment and trouble free operation. He has also produced other clocks using the more accurate dead-beat escapement, and a working prototype of the Arnfield gravity escapement. Most of Will's clocks are weight driven, but has also produced a range of spring driven timepieces. Will Matthysen is responsible for the design, prototyping, detailing and production of all his clocks. Numerous concept sketches are made for each clock, generally small three-dimensional views, followed by scaled technical drawings enabling him to visualise the whole object. The scaled working drawings are done to resolve every detail. Will does not regard a working drawing as the final stage in design, but as part of an ongoing process which only ends when the piece is completed. Wood as a natural material is incorporated into the overall design, and should also be allowed the freedom of influencing it. When developing a totally new design, Will Matthysen constructs a working prototype. This enables him to see the piece in the round, to fine tune the workings of the mechanism, and see how the shadows fall once illuminated by artificial lighting. It is here that he makes any final changes before commencing production
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