Whitney Biennial 2026 | Art & Artists

Through Aug 23


All

33 / 56

Previous Next

David L. Johnson (he/him)

33

Rule consists of the ongoing removal of codes-of-conduct signs from privately owned public spaces (POPS). POPS emerged in New York in 1961 following a zoning resolution that permitted private developers to construct taller buildings in exchange for creating nearby park-like spaces for public use. The private owners who control these spaces often set rules that are much more restrictive than those governing city parks and other public places. Under city planning regulations, POPS rules must be visibly posted to be enforceable.

Regla consiste en el desmantelamiento continuo de los signos con códigos de conducta en los espacios públicos de propiedad privada (POPS por sus siglas en inglés). Los POPS surgieron en Nueva York en 1961 luego de una resolución urbanística que permitía a promotores privados construir edificios más altos a cambio de crear espacios recreativos como parques para el uso público. Los dueños particulares que controlan esos espacios frecuentemente imponen reglas que son mucho más restrictivas que aquellas que imperan en los parques de la ciudad y en otros lugares públicos. Bajo las regulaciones de planificación urbana, las normas POPS deben ser expuestas visiblemente a fin de ser implementadas.

Rule, 2024–ongoing

Bronze plaque titled 'Rules of Conduct' listing prohibited activities like camping, lying, and bicycles.
Bronze plaque titled 'Rules of Conduct' listing prohibited activities like camping, lying, and bicycles.

David L. Johnson, Rule, 2024-ongoing (detail). Removed codes-of-conduct signs, dimensions variable. Collection of the artist. © David L. Johnson. Courtesy the artist

On the Hour

A 30-second online art project:
Frank WANG Yefeng, The Levitating Perils #2

Learn more about this project

Learn more at whitney.org/artport

On the Hour projects can contain motion and sound. To respect your accessibility settings autoplay is disabled.