NEW!! See The BAT on SFgate

Frequent international travelers must rely on “pictograms” to find bathrooms in countries where they may not speak the local language. I know I have. But what I did NOT know is how these images can vary so widely. Artist  Gregor Turk has actually studied this phenomenon, collected a sampling, and made it into a unique public art display at Jacksonville (FL) International Airport. VERY interesting!

Turk notes that even the most standard pictograms vary in their width, cut of the arms, 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, shapes, proportions, and activities. When the images of the respective figures are shown collectively, their typological differences become apparent, even amusing. The pictograms used as a source for this installation come from Brazil, Canada, the Czech Republic, France, Israel, Lebanon, Mexico, South Africa, Spain, Syria, and the United States.

If you come across unusual pictograms, he’d appreciate it if you’d take photos and email them to him: info@gregorturk.com More info at www.gregorturk.com

MORE AIRPORT ART…HERE AT SFO. Harriet Baskas has a terrific blog that focuses on airports around the world. She’s got a great new post about the Pinball Machine display now appearing at United’s Terminal 3 Walkway at SFO. Check it out here.

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