Normative Signs: The Poetry of "Ought"

Art galleries often feature normative signs — “do not sit in this chair,” and “no flash photography,” etc. But they typically have relatively few signs warning of physical danger.

But there are exceptions.

This was taken at the University of Toronto’s art gallery. It reads “Do not touch. Enter at your own risk. Caution: magnets under tension. Artwork is both fragile and dangerous. Look for wires.”

Thanks to Eric Fruhauf for the photo. Here’s the wildly dangerous artwork next to which the above sign was posted: