Early Clock-Out

This is a perfect example of Mari Stoel’s signature humor—a machine that has lost its own hand, caught in a moment of absurdity and quiet tragedy, yet somehow irresistibly funny. It seems ridiculous, yet it feels like a reflection of life itself—plans never keep up with change, and change never keeps up with the boss’s next decision. These little "anomalies" in life are often the most ordinary occurrences, like a joke the universe plays on us. And in such moments, perhaps the best thing to do is simply smile and move on. In his early conceptual works, Stoel captured similar themes—a painter lost in his own studio, a swimmer out of place, or a shopper stuck on the way to Aldi for cheap groceries. His works make us laugh, yet leave us lingering in thought long after.