What happens between the apprehension of a sign, and the moment in which, through a linguistic reading, it becomes legible? This series of pictograms attempts to create poetic "short-circuits" by piggy-backing on cliche and similitude. The point of meaning (if you can call it that) occurs in an extra-linguistic zone, yet depends wholly on both the signs' intrinsic language and on your prior ability to read the signs to which these relate.

Absurd, vitriolic, ominous, and comical, I have always been obsessed with the industries of medicine and science. They speak to the heart of our matter, our mortality and our business.

These signs were used and expanded upon in a variety of projects, from hotel room decor to lightboxes with exchangeable panels, meant to bring playful query into home design.

Lightboxes sold by Totem Design, NYC 2002-2003
Art "intervention" (with technologist Julian Bleecker), "The Restructured Screen," an online conference produced by Cal Arts and Eyebeam Atelier 2002
Hotel room design, The Creek, South Beach, Florida 2002
Lightboxes sold by Orange, Los Angeles 2002

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                      FROM THE LIGHTBOX SERIES:

                      FROM THE CREEK HOTEL:

©2002 Marina Zurkow