Although originally trained as a painter, Claerbout (1969) became more and more interested in the concept of time throughout his career. By investigating the nature of photography and film his oeuvre now exists at the intersection of photography, film and digital technology.
He often uses digital tools to manipulate still and moving imagery to suggest an otherworldly level of existence. Something that might refer to a specific place or event, but of which the timeline is not clear, oscillating between past and present.

The motive of his latest computer animated work the “confetti” piece is a single moment in time taken from an event that looks like a local election celebration in the United States. Thousands of confetti are falling from the sky, as guests are starting to clap their hands. The falling confetti, tumbling down gently like transparent flower petals seem to be an index of lightness.

Additionally, drawings are often the starting point of his computer animated works.