Neon art is a relatively new medium in which neon lights are used to create visually stimulating works of art, which frequently include motion and interactivity. The field of neon art is still developing as a genre, with new techniques and technologies opening up new possibilities every year.
Neon is a noble gas that shares many properties with the other noble gases: argon, krypton, xenon, and radon. Only neon and argon are used frequently in neon art. The atoms of a noble gas are dislodged from their orbit when it is bombarded with electrons by passing an electric current through it. As the electrons are absorbed by the atoms, the resulting energy is emitted as light.
Neon emits a red light, whereas argon mixed with a small amount of mercury emits a deep blue light. Other colors can be achieved by baking fluorescent powder into the glass tubing or using colored glass, but these are the two base colors used in neon art. In this way, neon art can achieve a wide range of colors, including various shades of red and blue, rich greens and yellows, and pure whites.
Most artists bend the glass freehand when creating neon art, while others use neon sign templates. Glass is bent by rolling it back and forth over a high-temperature flame while pulling it into the desired shape.
The Museum of Neon Art (MONA) in Los Angeles was the first museum in the world to focus solely on neon art in 1981. They’ve shown the work of over 400 artists so far and received a lot of positive feedback. MONA not only runs a museum, but it also offers classes in introductory neon shaping and technique, which are taught by museum staff and resident artists.
There are two types of neon art. In the first, neon tubing is the only medium used in the works. These pieces frequently resemble traditional neon signs, with a subtle message added as an artistic expression.
Sometimes the work is free-form, with no narrative structure, expressing itself through the gentle curves and vibrant colors that neon lighting allows. Another type of neon art employs neon lighting in conjunction with traditional media or everyday objects. This style of neon art is more political than neon art that focuses solely on the shape and color of the neon, and has resulted in some works that have received high critical acclaim.