If all the official signage that can be found around an average city bores you, you might not even notice the ones that are a little bit off, warning you of dangerous pigeons and tiny sinkholes or explaining the history of awkward silences in the area. Some are so small, they’re easy to just pass right by – like the one situated next to some velvet ropes and a mouse hole that reads “please wait here until called.” Your loss, really, because in this case, sharp observational skills really pay off.
Australian artist Michael Pederson, better known as ‘Miguel Marquez Outside,’ isn’t interested in art galleries. He prefers to hide his strange and witty signs throughout cities like Sydney to be noticed and enjoyed by the public. A mental health worker by day, Pederson installs his temporary works as quickly as possible knowing they could be up for mere minutes or last for months. It’s all good as long as they make someone smile or help get them out of their own heads, he says.
Pederson’s latest round of signs are even smaller than usual, alerting passersby to sidewalk weeds, questionable holes in shrubbery, exits to other dimensions and what they should do in the event of accidental staring on the bus. Previously, his installations have given parks solitude ratings, offered ‘personal space preference cards’ to pass out in public, and encouraged people to press a button so a trained proxy can go into a secluded wilderness area and scream on their behalf.
If stuff like this won’t prompt you to pay closer attention to your surroundings, what will? Follow Pederson’s work on Instagram @MiguelMarquezOutside or on tumblr.
