Signs

Gillian Wearing looks at the psychological impact of modern society. Her first major work is titled, “Signs that say what you want them to say and not Signs that say what someone else wants you to say” (1992-93). This series portrays psychology involved within different classes and cultures. Wearing takes pictures of various members of society. The people photographed include a policeman, a man in a suit, and an older looking couple. Wearing spontaneously stopped people on the street and had them write down a phrase then she took a photograph. Some of these pictures are actually very comedic, because it’s exactly what the viewer would not expect to be written. For example, a well shaven man in a suit is not expected to admit that he’s desperate. However, that’s exactly what his sign says. Another photograph has a man with messy hair holding a sign with a very insightful message. When looking at these pictures, the viewer suddenly becomes connected to modern society and culture.