Inspired by traditional Chinese writing in which the meaning of the character can be deciphered through its pictorial resemblance to a physical object or sign, Jackie Chang's "Signs of Life" combines text and image to evoke reflection on the human experience.

Originally installed in 2000 and constructed of glass and ceramic tile for the Metropolitan Av/Lorimer St station complex on the G and L in Brooklyn, Chang's “Signs of Life” offers text and images arranged as a puzzle throughout the station complex. A rock sits atop a pointed shape between two words, "FAITH" and "FATE." When transferring from the G platform to the L, riders are met with "YOUR STORY" quickly turning into "HISTORY" as they round the corner. The artist seeks to evoke the viewers' imaginations, perhaps hoping that interpretations will emerge over repeated viewings and rumination.

In 2024, Jackie Chang expanded upon “Signs of Life,” and created two new compositions featuring graphic symbols and bold text that spark contemplation for those traveling through the station. The new artwork, bearing the same title as Signs of Life, juxtaposes seemingly unrelated words in marble cutout and graphic symbols in glass mosaic. One panel features the text “TRUTH” and “TRUST” with the image of an iceberg. The other depicts “ones” and “once” with an image of an Armillaria fungi, among one of the world's largest and oldest living organisms. The artwork by Chang is an intriguing interplay between graphic symbol and text.

For Chang, a single word is a picture worth a thousand words, and its meaning is in constant flux. “The concept for Signs of Life is centered on offering riders ‘food for thought’ as they travel through the station,” notes artist Jackie Chang. “The new works to the collection reflect the same spirit, inviting subway users to find its meaning by drawing from their personal life experiences and understanding." The riders will find new personal meaning with each repeated encounter of the work as they journey through the station and through life.

In addition to the two new compositions, two existing panels featuring waves and the words “MANKIND” and “ITSELF” were refabricated and relocated to the Metropolitan Avenue mezzanine on the G line. The threads of messages in “Signs of Life” can now be experienced in its totality as the commuters rush through the passage of life.

Jackie Chang is a noted artist and community activist. Chang has completed a number of public art commissions around the nation for a variety of civic and public institutions including the Minneapolis Public Library, the Charlotte Department of Corrections, Miami Children’s Courthouse, and the NYC Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Chang has also played a critical role in developing many arts programs in New York City for community-based organizations including El Puente, BRIC and Groundswell Community Mural Project. She is committed to advancing creative practice as an integral part of social change.