Jacksonville International Airport Permanent Art Collection

Pictograms

Two new concourses are currently being constructed at Jacksonville International Airport.  Gregor Turk of Atlanta, Georgia was chosen to address the entrance to two restrooms in Concourse C.

This image shows a sample of wax-oil rubbings made of the ubiquitous pictograms found when entering restrooms. Through Turk’s travels and persistent documentation of these pictograms, he has found there to be a wide range of imagery of the gendered figure.  Even the most standard pictograms (originally introduced in the United States in 1974) vary in their width, cut of the arms, inseam, broadness of the shoulders, and distance or connectivity of the head to the body. At facilities that employ a greater sense of design, highly stylized pictograms reflect a much greater range in variations of body types, proportions, and activities. When images are shown collectively, their typological differences become apparent, even amusing.
 
Turk will present an engaging collection of the man pictogram for the men¹s restroom and the woman pictogram for the women¹s restroom. Over 60 unique pictograms for each gender will be glazed onto ceramic tile and arranged in a checkerboard fashion alternating blank and figured tiles.

Pictograms will be installed fall of 2008.  For more information on Gregor Turk please visit www.gregorturk.com.

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