“Caution A-Head”; Text, Traffic signs; 3’ x 3’; Saratoga, CA
This project is installed at the Montalvo Arts Center in Saratoga, CA. It consists of eight, yellow, diamond shaped traffic signs installed along the main road, which re-present the opening lines to Dante’s Inferno, the first book of the “Divine Comedy”. Dante’s words, “In the middle of a journey of our life, I found myself in a dark forest for the straight way was lost”, have been converted/ translated into “Lingo”, the language of text messaging and are presented as fragments, one after the other in a linear progression. This piece utilizes the forest like environment along a windy road, to echo the metaphorical setting of the poem, while using traffic signs to play with the idea of being lost and searching for the right way.
“Caution A-Head” strives to bridge the gap between art and the public, thus providing an aesthetic experience that is an integral part of everyday life. The medium of traffic signs, as well as texting, have been selected because of their familiarity. In other words, these are democratic means of communication that welcome the viewer and act as an open invitation for interaction and engagement. This approach of creating a friendly relationship between art and the viewer, allows concepts to be presented in a way, which is engaging and though provoking. The end result is an experience that adds to the existing meaning of the place/site, thus creating deeper connections between the public, the location and the arts.