Exit 11

Exit 11 is an art installation that leverages Riyadh’s unique urban landscape to create a potent narrative around the city’s ubiquitous “exit” signs. Using the cultural and linguistic nuances of “exit”, which is used in Saudi slang to mean problem-solving, the artwork fosters a dynamic dialogue between the viewer, the city, and the shared experiences of moving through life’s challenges. The art installation aims to unravel the complexities of communication and the role typography and design play in our perception and interpretation. The common street signage for “exit” appears in a manner opposite to its typical purpose, provoking questions, and introspection. The layout of the installation is critical to the piece. By having the signs on the roadside one right after the other, their sequence allows them to transcend being a tool for wayfinding, and to become instead ruminations on the idea of navigation itself.

Exit 11, 2023 © bytwo
Commissioned by RCRC and Riyadh Art