Sign Out

This photographic series is titled Sign Out by Poland-born, Düsseldorf-based photographer Josef Schulz.

I assume that these photographs are found abstractions: Newly constructed signage that has yet to be adorned with typography and graphics. Captured in this incomplete stage, these photographs look equally surreal and futuristic, and our attention is turned away from the function of these objects to a heightened consideration of form and colour.

Update: As Maarten suggests in the comments, these photographs are more than likely digitally manipulated. Seen in this light, the work’s title is literal. Sign Out refers to a removal of graphics in an attempt to reduce or minimalise what already exists to its most basic form.

  1. Maarten
    31.08.10 14:49

    Hi Adrian, I would expect these are photoshopped; usually the lettering on signs are not added afterwards…

  2. Adrian
    31.08.10 14:57

    Hi Maarten, you are probably right. In which case, I find these photographs even more interesting. Instead of them being incomplete, it is about a pairing back of what already exists. Reduction in this way is very minimalist. The title, Sign Out, makes a lot more sense, too. Thanks for helping me clarify my understanding of this work, I’ll make an update to this post shortly.

  3. Maarten
    31.08.10 15:36

    Hahaha you’re welcome my friend.

  4. Giulio.
    01.09.10 00:38

    Clearly photoshopped.. But really interesting.

  5. Mark
    02.09.10 11:40

    There is an article about the series on his site.

    http://www.josefschulz.de/html/signout_pm_eng.html

  6. Derek
    15.01.12 23:17

    I recognize Waffle House, dang. Now I want waffles.