2022

Site-specific installation

Materials: Printed signs, existing architectural elements (pipes, vents, walls)

Location: Pfizer Building, Brooklyn, New York

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Warning is inspired by the location of the Pfizer Building, a former manufacturing factory. The ceiling is filled with large and small pipes, each marked with signs such as “STEAM,” “CHILLED WATER SUPPLY,” “HI PRESSURE STEAM,” “CONDENSATE,” and others. In Warning, I place signs on these pipes with different texts like “COVID,” “WAR,” “VACCINE SUPPLY,” “ECONOMIC SANCTION,” and “WHO IS STILL ALIVE?” These signs intentionally mimic the original ones, and I aim to create a sense of ambiguity, both visually and in meaning, prompting viewers to question whether these signs are authentic or subtly altered.

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The idea stems from the connection between the Pfizer Building, vaccines, COVID-19, and the ventilation ducts throughout the space, which remind me of how the pandemic spread across the world. Just as every area is connected, I placed a “COVID” sign next to a vent on the duct, suggesting the virus’s spread. I also placed “VACCINE SUPPLY” and “WHO IS STILL ALIVE?” on a nearby pipe. On the opposite side, I placed signs that read “WAR,” “ECONOMIC SANCTION,” and “WHO IS STILL ALIVE?” War is like a virus—it can originate in one area but affect the entire world. I’m uncertain if economic sanctions are enough to stop the ongoing war in Europe, and I want people to reflect on who survives due to vested interests and who suffers as innocent victims.

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