The Relentless Timekeeper

The Relentless Timekeeper

Oscar Pennington dedicated his life to documenting the opening hours of countless establishments, leaving behind a unique legacy that captured the imagination of the public, and sparking an ongoing debate on the line between madness and artistic genius.

Oscar Pennington lived in a small town nestled between rolling hills and winding rivers. Oscar was a man of peculiar habits, and among these, his obsession with writing down the opening hours of every establishment he encountered stood out. It began as a harmless, quirky pastime, but by the time Oscar reached his early 20s, it had blossomed into a full-time occupation.

Every day, Oscar would rise at 7 am, enjoy a hearty breakfast, and then set out to document the opening hours of every shop, institution, and office he came across. He photographed the posted hours and carefully transcribed them into a meticulously organized notebook. Whenever a new business opened its doors, Oscar was always the first to arrive, pen and camera in hand.

As the years went by, Oscar expanded his documentation efforts beyond his hometown, venturing out to neighboring towns and villages. By the time he reached his 40s, he had cataloged the opening hours of every establishment in his entire country.

Recognizing the unique value of his work, Oscar set up a webpage and began to crowdsource funding for his project. With the support of his newfound patrons, he embarked on international journeys, documenting opening hours in neighboring countries and beyond.

Throughout his life, journalists attempted to interview Oscar and uncover the reason behind his singular obsession. Yet, he remained tight-lipped, refusing to discuss his motivations. This only fueled speculation and intrigue about the enigmatic man.

Oscar passed away in his 90s, leaving behind thousands of notebooks filled with opening hours and millions of photographs documenting his life’s work. It was discovered that he had lived frugally, spending only a fraction of the funds raised through his crowdfunding efforts. Millions remained untouched in his account.

Oscar’s family, unsure of what to do with the vast fortune, decided to use the funds to build a museum dedicated to his work. The museum became a testament to Oscar’s relentless pursuit of his passion, and his story captured the imagination of the public.

The museum dedicated to Oscar Pennington’s life and work was unlike any other. In a fitting tribute to the man who had spent his entire life documenting the opening hours of countless establishments, the museum had no opening hours of its own. This unique approach allowed visitors to come and go as they pleased, reflecting on Oscar’s remarkable journey without the constraints of time. It also served as a testament to Oscar’s work, granting him eternal peace of mind in knowing that there was one place, dedicated to him, that he would never have to document.

Posthumously, Oscar Pennington was catapulted to celebrity status within the art world. In the end, the true value of Oscar’s life’s work lay in the legacy he left behind. His obsessive documentation of opening hours became a testament to the power of passion and the beauty of eccentricity, inspiring generations of artists and dreamers to pursue their own unique visions, no matter how unusual they might seem. Scholars, critics, and enthusiasts began to analyze his work in earnest, writing books and dissertations about the possible reasons for his compulsive behavior. The debate raged on: was Oscar Pennington a madman, or an artistic genius?

All images were generated using DALL.E 2 (Open AI)