60 seconds celebrates photography’s signature immediacy, tracing how artists have embraced Polaroids, or instant film, for their ability to produce a unique image in mere moments. From its introduction, this technology transformed the act of picture-making, collapsing the gap between capture and result, and allowing artists to engage more directly with the image as it comes into being.

Over time, instant film has fostered both spontaneous experimentation and inventive manipulation. Artists have used Polaroids not only as finished works but also as tools for testing ideas, documenting processes, and pushing the boundaries of photographic language. The medium’s inherent unpredictability—its shifts in color, exposure, and texture—has made it a fertile ground for play, process, and discovery.

Drawn from the Norton’s Collection, the exhibition considers why instant film continues to captivate artists and viewers alike. Even in the digital age, its tactile qualities and singularity sustain a strong cultural appeal, offering a counterpoint to reproducibility and reaffirming the value of the one-of-a-kind image well into the 21st century.