Posing the question, “What does luggage think about?”, Peña’s sculpture breathes life into baggage with messages displayed on classic ‘split-flap’ boards. The nostalgic sound speaks to the evolution of visual communication in the travel industry and evokes the charm of old transportation hubs. The thought bubbles floating above the brightly colored suitcases have messages in the artist’s handwriting. The texts create distinct personalities for each bag. Some simply reflect on the surroundings, while one is more introspective and one catches some much-needed shut-eye. To create the texts, the artist invited community members to participate. Over 1,000 people sent thoughts revealing the possible inner lives of our silent, everyday travel companions.

Materials: Powder Coated Steel, Corafoam, Polypropylene, Acrylic Enamel Paint, Split-Flap Units
Location: Baggage Claim, Pre-security Terminal
Type: Sculpture