The concept of time pervades the field of art in various ways.
I have chosen the traditional Chinese Zodiac to represent this physicalized "time." The origin and development of the Chinese Zodiac date back centuries. As a tool for measuring time and a cultural symbol, the Chinese Zodiac is highly representative, both in its practical function for timekeeping and in the cultural meanings that have evolved from it.
The zodiac was born when people began to match the twelve branches with animals they were familiar with, making the system of years more visual. This made it easier for them to understand the sequence of years within at least a twelve-year cycle. 
The most common function of the Chinese Zodiac was to facilitate the differentiation of every year and the ages among people. Using visual animals to denote the year of birth was much more convenient and memorable than remembering the sexagenary cycle.
Additionally, the Chinese Zodiac served as a means of naming. It was common for people to name children based on the zodiac animal of the year, month, day, and hour of their birth, with the year's animal being used more frequently. Animals like the pig, dog, ox, and sheep, among others, became common nicknames for children.
As the popularity and development of the Chinese Zodiac advanced, it increasingly became associated with the philosophy of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements. To this day, many people still lean towards finding a partner whose zodiac sign is compatible with theirs, hoping to maximize happiness.