As part of the larger Street Semiotics project, Directed Attention critically examines the act of pointing and other directional gestures as symbols of influence, control, and guidance in public spaces. Whether used to give instructions, assign blame, or guide someone’s focus, these gestures become part of the visual language that governs city life. The series explores how attention, in a media-saturated world, has become a form of currency, where the ability to direct it shapes social interactions and hierarchies.
Gestures like pointing hold both practical and symbolic significance. Historically, they are expressions of power—whether directing others or commanding focus—and they reflect a dynamic of leadership and submission. From ancient Roman orators to everyday street interactions, pointing serves as a tool for conveying intent and controlling perception. This simple, universal movement is a marker of authority, guidance, and, at times, accusation, directing both physical and metaphorical attention within public spaces.
Through the lens of semiotics, pointing is not just a gesture but a signifier within a system of signs. It communicates meaning without words, shaping how individuals understand and engage with their surroundings. In mythology and religious iconography, pointing is often associated with divine guidance or fate, with gods and leaders depicted as directing the course of human affairs. In this context, gestures act as a bridge between the physical world and abstract notions of destiny, decision-making, and control.
Directed Attention also engages with Jungian archetypes, particularly the Ruler and the Explorer. These figures reflect how gestures of direction—whether assertive or ambiguous—embody authority and the search for understanding or meaning. In a cityscape, gestures may guide individuals toward discovery or reinforce existing hierarchies, shaping how public spaces are navigated and experienced.
By visually capturing gestures that direct, influence, and manipulate attention, this series contributes to Street Semiotics by demonstrating how non-verbal communication acts as a powerful force in defining public space, identity, and social interaction. Through Directed Attention, the series reveals the deeper layers of meaning embedded in everyday movements, inviting viewers to reconsider the symbolic power of gestures in urban life.
Gestures like pointing hold both practical and symbolic significance. Historically, they are expressions of power—whether directing others or commanding focus—and they reflect a dynamic of leadership and submission. From ancient Roman orators to everyday street interactions, pointing serves as a tool for conveying intent and controlling perception. This simple, universal movement is a marker of authority, guidance, and, at times, accusation, directing both physical and metaphorical attention within public spaces.
Through the lens of semiotics, pointing is not just a gesture but a signifier within a system of signs. It communicates meaning without words, shaping how individuals understand and engage with their surroundings. In mythology and religious iconography, pointing is often associated with divine guidance or fate, with gods and leaders depicted as directing the course of human affairs. In this context, gestures act as a bridge between the physical world and abstract notions of destiny, decision-making, and control.
Directed Attention also engages with Jungian archetypes, particularly the Ruler and the Explorer. These figures reflect how gestures of direction—whether assertive or ambiguous—embody authority and the search for understanding or meaning. In a cityscape, gestures may guide individuals toward discovery or reinforce existing hierarchies, shaping how public spaces are navigated and experienced.
By visually capturing gestures that direct, influence, and manipulate attention, this series contributes to Street Semiotics by demonstrating how non-verbal communication acts as a powerful force in defining public space, identity, and social interaction. Through Directed Attention, the series reveals the deeper layers of meaning embedded in everyday movements, inviting viewers to reconsider the symbolic power of gestures in urban life.
New York City. 2024.
